Arsenal confirmed their determination to win the Premier League title by defeating Manchester United 3-2 on Sunday to reach 50 points at the halfway point of the season, a tally that usually results in the team finishing the season as champions.

Arsenal became only the fifth team in Premier League history to reach 50 points in their first 19 games, thanks to Eddie Nketiah's stoppage-time strike. Three of the previous four teams to reach that mark went on to win the championship.

Manchester City won the title in 2017-18 with 55 points in the first half of the season, as did Liverpool in 2019-20, and Chelsea won the title in 2005-06 with 51 points.

Only Liverpool failed to win the title in 2018-19 despite scoring 51 points in 19 games, losing to Manchester City after blowing a seven-point lead.

Arsenal has a smaller lead over City than Liverpool did, leading Pep Guardiola's team by five points, and they have played one fewer game.

Arsenal face City in the FA Cup on Friday before a league meeting at the Emirates Stadium on February 15, which could determine whether the Gunners win their first Premier League title in 19 years or are beaten by City, who have won four of the last five titles.

City lost some momentum after losing the Manchester derby to Manchester United last weekend, but they proved they will not give up their title easily by storming back from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 on Thursday before thumping Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 on Sunday.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane believes Arsenal are in control.

"The momentum is with them, there's good experience, youth and pace. They had good options off the bench - they're in a great place," Keane stated on Sky Sports.

"If you had said at the start of the season they'd be where they are, you wouldn't have believed it. It will take a lot to stop them."

However, his former teammate and fellow pundit Gary Neville believes City should not be written off just yet.

"They (Arsenal) need to now go on and prove to us that they can win the title, which is going to be really tough. They've still got to play Manchester City twice and they've got them on their shoulders," he said.

"They're a massive powerhouse, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. You can imagine them sitting there tonight not being too fazed by this."