Jamie Redknapp has identified Brighton as Arsenal's biggest title threat after Manchester City's third consecutive Premier League defeat. The Sky Sports pundit's assessment comes with the Gunners sitting six points clear at the summit, having taken 27 points from their first ten games.

Redknapp admitted he was surprised by his own conclusion. "If you look at the league table, I think right now, probably the one you’d point to, and I never thought I’d say this at the start of the year, but it’s Brighton," he said. His comments follow a 3-1 win for Nottingham Forest over City, which extended the champions' losing run and handed Arsenal a significant cushion.

Why Brighton are a threat

Brighton have already beaten Arsenal 3-0 at the Amex this season and also defeated Manchester City at the Etihad. They are the league's highest scorers, a fact that underpins their status as genuine contenders under manager Fabian Hurzeler. While Arsenal's season has been largely effective with just one major blip, the form of the Seagulls presents a new challenge.

Manchester City's slump, which includes losses to Aston Villa and Brighton before the Forest defeat, has reshaped the title race. City had begun the campaign with seven straight wins but have now dropped 12 points behind Arsenal. Nottingham Forest's victory, their second of the season, was secured with goals from Jair Cunha and a Liam Delap brace, moving them two points clear of the relegation zone.

Arsenal's strong position

Mikel Arteta's side are in formidable form, unbeaten in their last five matches with four wins and a draw. Their latest result was a 1-0 victory over Hull City, secured by a Martin Odegaard goal. This consistent run has solidified their place at the top of the standings.

Attention now turns to a demanding run of fixtures. Arsenal travel to 11th-placed Newcastle this weekend, with further away games at Brentford and Tottenham to come in their next four. Crucially, they also face Manchester City before the end of November in a match that could define the early title race. Arteta is aiming to become only the second manager in nearly two decades, after Pep Guardiola, to retain the Premier League title. Arsenal's next test is at St James' Park on Saturday, 21 November.

More detail at Daily Mirror Football