MIK HAS ‘LITTLE HORSE’ IN RACE

BY

IT is 10 years since the Premier League last had a three-horse title race.

Back then, Jose Mourinho described Chelsea as the “little horse”, doing his best to play down expectation levels.

The Special One’s attempt to ease the pressure on his players ultimately did not pay off, as the Blues failed to match the pace of eventual champions Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool in the final furlong. Fast forward to this season and Arsenal are seen as the outsiders in many quarters, with leaders Liverpool and reigning champs Manchester City pushing for the title – as they were in 2014.

But Mikel Arteta’s men have the chance to go top tonight by beating Brentford, with their two rivals in a showdown at Anfield tomorrow.

And if the Gunners win an eighth consecutive league game, and Liverpool and City play out a draw, only one point will separate the top three with ten games left. That could make it the most exciting and open three-way title race in Premier League history.

Since the competition began in 1992, there have only been ten three-horse title races, with the definition being a maximum of three points separating the top three at least 28 games into the season.

Arsenal were the ones being chased down by City last season. But that could change after this weekend, a point not lost on Arteta (with midfielder Mohamed Elneny, right) who almost cast his side as this season’s “little horse”.

“We are third at the moment and we are competing with two of the most successful clubs in Europe in the last decade,” said the

Gunners boss, who picked up the February Premier League manager of the month award.

“They have set the standards that no one else has been capable of. But what we have to do is try to improve and do better than them.”