LONDON - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels the race for the Premier League title this season is the "most exciting" he has even known.
All four of the top clubs in England meet each other in what promises to be a fascinating day of football, when leaders Arsenal host Chelsea and champions Manchester United travel to Liverpool.
The Gunners hold a one-point lead over United following their shock first defeat of the domestic season at Middlesbrough last weekend, but could find themselves pegged back to level with the Blues come full-time at Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
The current situation is in stark contrast to that of recent campaigns, when United and Chelsea have pulled away into a clear two-horse race.
Wenger believes such fierce competition can only be "super healthy" for the English top flight.
"I believe without a doubt that this season will be the most exciting year in the Premier League," declared the Arsenal manager, who has won the title three times since arriving at Highbury during September 1996.
"Since I have been here you have never had four teams as tight as that after 15 or 16 games."
Robin van Persie - who could feature again on Sunday having returned from an injury lay-off against Steaua Bucharest in midweek - feels United are the biggest threat to Arsenal's hopes of regaining the title.
Wenger, though, maintained: "It is very difficult to pick one out of the three contenders.
"For me all three are the same - but for different reasons.
"Chelsea because they have the quality, the experience and have done it.
"Liverpool because they have invested a lot and are keen to win it.
"And Manchester United because they have the individual potential to score goals at any moment and have done it before."
The Gunners boss added: "It is super healthy.
"You want that it is fair, remains fair during the season because it could get a little bit out of hand sometimes when it's very tight.
"It's down to consistency in the big games."
Wenger knows his side could strike a major psychological blow with victory on Sunday to take into the hectic festive schedule.
"We have a good opportunity to strengthen our lead again because at least one of Liverpool and Manchester United will drop points, maybe both," he said.
"For us victory would put us in a very strong position again."
Wenger has been impressed by the way Avram Grant has gone about his business since being installed as Chelsea manager following Jose Mourinho's departure.
The Stamford Bridge outfit have put together an unbeaten run of 16 matches as they climbed the table and also qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Grant spent a brief spell watching how Wenger worked at London Colney when he was in charge of the Israel national team, and has just signed a new, long-term deal with Chelsea.
Wenger observed: "At the moment they have been discreet, but efficient.
"Avram Grant has got a completely different profile, he is not very noisy - but his team is efficient and that is important. His results speak for him."
Wenger believes whoever had taken over from the outspoken Portuguese coach would have been given a strong base on which to take the club forwards.
He said: "You forget before Mourinho arrived, what was Chelsea?
"Second in the league against a team that didn't lose a game and in the semi-final of the Champions League. They already had good results.
"Mourinho brought them up to win the championship, but they always had good teams."
Grant lost his first match in charge, at Manchester United, but has not looked back since.
Wenger reflected: "Grant has done well - but you cannot expect that for someone who is 52 and been coaching his whole life that the team will suddenly collapse under him and stop winning games.
"He has got a four-year contract so people must see he is doing something all right."
Grant defends captain, steers Blues to Arsenal
LONDON - Chelsea boss Avram Grant insists John Terry must continue as England captain - because the Three Lions fall apart without him.
Fabio Capello is on the brink of being installed as the next England boss and the Italian has as reputation for not tolerating egos or bad behaviour.
Terry's suitability for the captaincy has been called into question recently and there have been calls for his position to be reviewed when Capello takes over.
But Grant insists his club skipper remains the perfect choice to wear the armband for England.
"When Fabio Capello comes here he will say what his strategy and tactics are," he said.
"I'm sure John Terry is the best captain England can have.
"You can see that from what happened to England when he didn't play against Croatia and Russia in the important Euro 2008 qualifiers.
"John is a captain, not just a player. I work with him every day and I haven't seen a captain like him.
"When we have a player who has a problem John has proved a good captain.
"I don't think that Fabio Capello is stupid - I don't think John will be dropped as captain."
Grant believes Capello is the ideal antidote to England's misery under Steve McClaren, which concluded with the failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
Successful stints at AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid have forged Capello's impeccable coaching credentials and Grant insists the 61-year-old commands respect.
"I know Fabio well. I watched his training sessions when he was coach at several clubs," he said.
"He's a very good coach and knows all aspects of football. It is good for England that he's the coach because he has respect from everyone.
"Capello is a big name and he has a good record. I also like his personality."
Grant insists the Football Association were right to cast their net abroad in their search for McClaren's successor and denied Capello's lack of English would prove problematic.
"The English team need a good coach and I don't think they need to be English or foreign," he said.
"Sven-Goran Eriksson changed the way England played and they did very well under him.
"I know you remember only the penalties against Portugal but he did a good job.
"And I think an English manager can also make a good manager. I don't think nationality is a problem.
"Language can be a problem if you do not know football but the focus is different at international level.
"Of course it is easier if you know English but I don't think it will be a problem."
Chelsea face Arsenal on Sunday in a key Barclays Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Ashley Cole will be playing at his old club for the first time since leaving in acrimonious circumstances 20 months ago and is guaranteed a hostile reception.
But Grant is ready to plunge the England left-back into the Emirates cauldron - and is backing him to show the nerve needed to silence angry Gunners fans.
"The only hesitation I have in selection is over quality and Ashley has good quality," he said.
"If he needs to play he will play. He's an experienced player and I don't think if the crowd boo him it will affect him."
Grant added: "This is an important game because it's a big game between these two clubs.
"Secondly, we are three points behind Arsenal. It was seven points two games ago and now it's only three.
"I don't think this is the game that will affect the championship immediately but it's a good game to win."
