With just two points separating Leicester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the table, it now looks likely an unfamiliar name will be engraved on the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
Arsenal's defeat of Leicester was crucial in cutting the Foxes' lead at the top of the table, but Spurs' dramatic victory over Manchester City may prove equally significant. It lifts them to second, above the Gunners on goal difference, and leaves City in fourth place, four points adrift of the two London clubs and six points off the lead.
With City now 8-1 to claim the title after two consecutive home defeats, the untested teams at the top of the table must hold their nerve.
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But with no games for a fortnight as cup competitions take precedence, the contenders will have plenty of time to stew over their chances as fans look forward to what Goal.com calls the "most captivating run-in in recent memory".
Arsenal:
Of the top three, only Arsenal have ever won the Premier League, but their most recent triumph was in 2004. Between them, the three squads contain only three players with Premier League winners' medals and two are Gunners: Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck, who claimed his prize with Man United. The third man is Leicester's Robert Hutch, who won the title with Chelsea
When it comes to experience, "Arsenal appear to have a crucial edge," says the Daily Telegraph. "[Manager Arsene] Wenger's squad boasts a sprinkling of stars who have delivered at crucial times: Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker in a World Cup final and Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck in the white heat of a Premier League title battle."
Spurs:
The Telegraph may be impressed by Arsenal's personnel, but it comes down on the side of Spurs after running the rule over the two north London clubs. Their defence is rock solid and they have an easier run in than the Gunners, notes the paper.
There is a groundswell of opinion behind Spurs after their performance at Man City. "Tottenham are the best team in the division. They may not boast the same level of individual talent as Arsenal or City, but they showed again on Sunday that they are more than the sum of their parts," says Goal.com.
Spurs are organised, resilient, aggressive, confident and super-fit, it adds.
"At this stage of the season, momentum and confidence play a huge part in deciding the title race and, at the moment, Mauricio Pochettino's side have both," says Danny Murphy of the BBC. "They are two points off the top of the table after winning five Premier League games in a row and results like [the win over Man City] will make them believe that they can be champions in May."
Leicester City:
Defeat to Arsenal was a bitter blow for the Foxes, who do not play again for two weeks.
"Losing could drain them of confidence completely. Or it might give them the hunger they need to kick on. They have by far the most straightforward run in. And it may not do them any harm to be written off a little bit, either," comments Rory Smith of The Times.
Manager Claudio Ranieri's decision to give the squad a week off could be a masterstroke says The Guardian. The team are out of the FA Cup so will spend this week relaxing before returning to training on Monday.
"By the time Leicester return to Premier League action against Norwich on 27 February, they will have had one week switched off in the sun somewhere and another getting back up to speed at the training ground. Their closest challengers have far tougher schedules," says the paper.
Manchester City:
With question marks over the top three, could now be the time to back Man City at 8-1 for the title?
"The likes of Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero would walk in to any of their rivals' starting XIs," points out Goal.com. "They are six points from top but if they can keep Kompany and Aguero fit, City are capable of hitting a run of form that could win them the title in Pellegrini's final season."
