Antonio Conte says Arsenal must show they can handle pressure in title race

is five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table after 17 matches and they will face

on Sunday, while Manchester City faces Manchester United in the Manchester derby on Saturday.

In his pre-match press conference, Conte who won the

with Chelsea in 2017 said the real challenge for Arsenal starts now.

"When you are at the top of the league the perception of your opponents change totally,"

Conte told reporters.

"You are in that moment the best team in the league. For this reason, everybody wants to try to beat you.

"For sure, Arsenal has to face this situation of being favourites to win the league at this moment because they are top of the table. They have to show they are good to face this type of situation.

"In the last 10 years it was always the same, between City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Maybe Leicester [City]. Now Arsenal have a great opportunity.

"I think they are doing very well. Now they have to show they can stay there until the end of the season because I'm sure Manchester City doesn't agree and will feel the real possibility to win [the title] again.

"I think it is a battle between Arsenal and Manchester City."

Conte also said buying the right players in the transfer market and being patient with their young players are reasons for Arsenal's success.

He said: "

They are working for many years in a project.

"They are doing very well. They sent away a lot of players, and bring in many players and they spend money to do it.

"It's normal when you work with the same young players and after four years they develop and become stronger.

"You have two paths you can follow.

"If you want to accelerate the process it is important to bring experienced players, winners, who know how to win, but you have another way, which is you need to have time and patience to develop young players."

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