After Chelsea's impressive win against Manchester City on Monday night, there are now just two points separating the top three sides in the Premier League.
Arsenal lead the race as Arsene Wenger bids to end the club's almost nine-year trophy drought, but Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini have the Gunners in their sights.
With only 14 games left to play, here are Sportsmail's picks for this season's title winners.
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Eyes on the prize: Chelsea players celebrate Branislav Ivanovic's winning goal against Manchester City
Matt Lawton - Manchester City
Jose Mourinho is right that City remain the best team with the best squad. Once Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho are back from injury, I think they will simply prove unstoppable. Too much firepower.
Laurie Whitwell - Chelsea
Monday night altered my perception of the title race and reaffirmed Jose Mourinho's tactical and inspirational qualities.
An awful lot might depend on how far each of Chelsea, Manchester City and leaders Arsenal progress in the Champions League as fixtures mount up. But considering City will go to Old Trafford and the Emirates in the space of five days in March, and Arsenal have City and Chelsea in a week - the initiative looks to be at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal's injuries, City's vulnerability defensively and the rise of Eden Hazard are further plus points for Mourinho's men. It would be his greatest title victory.
Mike Anstead - Arsenal
Like most onlookers, I expected Arsenal to have lowered their sights to the top four by now. But they are far stronger than that this season.
They have a concrete defence (Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have been rock solid) - and their attack will break down anyone eventually. Mesut Ozil's ability to pick out Olivier Giroud is key.
Two fixtures stand out - Chelsea (A) and Man City (H) in the space of a week next month. If they win one of them, the title is theirs.
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Goals galore: Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been in excellent form this season
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Deadly duo: Edin Dzeko (left) and Alvaro Negredo (right) will be tasked with scoring goals in Aguero's absence
Sami Mokbel - Manchester City
While Monday night's result will sew a slight seed of doubt in their mind, City still have far too much firepower. Chelsea provided us with a blueprint on how to stifle them but other teams will not be as effective in carrying out that plan.
John Edwards - Manchester City
Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t have to pit his wits against Jose Mourinho every week, and City still have far and away the best squad. Mourinho does seem to have the measure of Pellegrini but City’s two fixtures with Chelsea are out of the way and they can get back to steamrollering the rest of the Barclays Premier League.
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Tricky customer: Eden Hazard was at his sparkling best against Manchester City on Monday night
Ian Ladyman - Chelsea
I tipped them at the start of the season, had a bit of a wobble in early winter but I’m now happy to swing back again to Jose Mourinho’s team. They are not as gifted as Manchester City but they do have some know-how in key areas. And, of course, a remarkable manager.
Matt Barlow - Manchester City
Chelsea don't look like conceding but I am backing City's extra goals and squad power to make a difference over time, especially when the Champions League returns. Congestion is a greater issue for Arsenal and Chelsea. The absence of Fernandinho and Aguero is a concern but few teams have power to do what Chelsea did to them.
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Going for glory: Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini (left) and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (right) are both hoping to lift the Premier League title in May
Neil Moxley - Chelsea
Why? Apart from Spurs and Arsenal at home - where they have been invincible under Jose - the only other fixture they have to come against a top-four rival is Liverpool, away, two matches before the end of the season. Never mind Manchester City, their form at present is sensational, too.
City's title challenge will, in my humble, rest on the outcome of back-to-back away matches at the end of March against Arsenal and Manchester United. If they win both of those...
Having said that, looking at Arsenal's run-in, their last four matches are comfortable. If they are on top with those to play, I'd fancy them.
I'm going with Chelsea. But I wouldn't put any of my own hard-earned on it!
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Magic moment: Ivanovic's strike beats Joe Hart to bring Chelsea level on points with Manchester City
Laura Williamson - Manchester City
I still think it's their Premier League title to lose, given the horrible fixtures Arsenal have in February and March (not to mention the number of injuries), and Chelsea's lack of a free-scoring striker.
City still have to go to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool but I think they should have just about enough to secure the title. It will be mightily close, though.
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Engine: City have the return of injured midfielder Fernandinho (right) to look forward to
Dominic King - Manchester City
They were my tip at the start of the season and I don't see any reason to desert them.
They have the finest array of attacking talent in the Premier League and once Sergio Aguero is back, they will have enough to blow their rivals away.
One thing Monday night's result has done, however, is guaranteed the excitement and intrigue will go to the wire.
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Spot on: City midfielder Yaya Toure has been in imperious form under Pellegrini this season
REMAINING FIXTURES FOR THREE MAIN CONTENDERS
ARSENAL
Liverpool (A)
Man Utd (H)
Sunderland (H)
Stoke (A)
Swansea (H)
Tottenham (A)
Chelsea (A)
Man City (H)
Everton (A)
West Ham (H)
Hull (A)
Newcastle (H)
West Brom (H)
Norwich (A)
MAN CITY
Norwich (A)
Sunderland (H)
Stoke (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Hull (A)
Fulham (H)
Man Utd (A)
Arsenal (A)
Southampton (H)
Liverpool (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Everton (A)
West Ham (H)
CHELSEA
Newcastle (H)
West Brom (A)
Everton (H)
Fulham (A)
Tottenham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Stoke (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
Liverpool (A)
Norwich (H)
Cardiff (A)
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Leading the way: Arsene Wenger's Arsenal currently have a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League
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Flying high: The Gunners have combined a solid defence with their usual free-flowing attack this season
Simon Cass - Manchester City
Manuel Pellegrini’s side may have lost their unblemished home record with the defeat by Chelsea but with Southampton the only top-half side still to visit the Etihad, City can easily win all seven remaining fixtures at home.
On the road Norwich, Hull and Crystal Palace should be nine points so if they can get something from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton on their travels then the title will be theirs.
Chris Wheeler - Manchester City
This defeat won’t derail City. Their next six Premier League games are against Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke, Aston Villa, Hull and Fulham, and they could feasibly win the lot even if Aguero, Fernandinho and Nasri will miss a chunk of them. City have enough in the tank to get over the line from there. Arsenal and Chelsea will simply drop more points.
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Home comforts: Southampton are the only current top-half side Manchester City have left to face at the Etihad
Martin Domin - Arsenal
Anyone who thinks Manchester City have the title wrapped up already are dreaming. Chelsea proved that Manuel Pellegrini’s side can be beaten at home; even Crystal Palace almost snatched a point.
Yes, Arsenal have an horrendous set of fixtures but they play Manchester United and City at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger’s men are top of the table; it’s their title to lose.
Joe Ridge - Arsenal
This trademark of this Arsenal side is what the Gunners have lacked over their eight trophyless seasons - consistency. While City, Chelsea and Liverpool have blown hot and cold, Arsenal have led from the front all season long. Plus, they have the easiest run-in of the title contenders.
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Still going strong: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain helped Arsenal maintain their advantage with two goals against Crystal Palace on Sunday
Riath Al Samarrai - Manchester City
Regardless of results against Chelsea, City have the best squad and arguably the best team. Chelsea aren't far off, but can you really win the title without a prolific striker?
Joe Strange - Chelsea
City have the goals and the style but Chelsea have the manager, tactics and right blend of players to grind out results when the going gets tough. It'll be close - and Arsenal's desire will help them go close - but Mourinho's experience will be key to the title returning to Stamford Bridge.
Craig Hope - Manchester City
It’s a simple science – goals win games. And City score too many goals not to win the title. Chelsea will run them close but one or two more frustrations similar to last week’s goalless draw with West Ham could prove their undoing.
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Struggles: Samuel Eto'o is yet to score away from home for Chelsea since joining the club last summer
Dan Willis: Arsenal
With the Arsenal’s new-found ability to grind out wins and turn on the style, the rapidly-maturing Gunners can end their nine-year trophy drought with the big one this season.
original post found here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2551446/Only-two-points-separate-Arsenal-Man-City-Chelsea-14-games-play-But-come-top.html
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