Antonio Conte turned the heat on Arsenal ahead of the North London derby, hailing them as the best team in the Premier League and clear favourites for the title.
The Tottenham boss went on to claim only Manchester City could catch them and warned Mikel Arteta there were tougher tests ahead created by pressure and expectation.
‘When you are top of the league, the perception of your opponents change totally,’ said Conte, who led from the front to win the title with Chelsea in 2017.
‘You are the best team and everybody wants to try to beat you. For sure, Arsenal has to face the situation of being favourites because they are top of the table. They have to show they are good enough to face this situation.
‘They have a great opportunity, working for many years in a project. They sent a lot of players out, they brought a lot of players in and they spend money to do it and they are doing well.
‘Now, they have to show they can stay there until the end because I’m sure Manchester City doesn’t agree, and will feel the real possibility to win again. I think it is a battle between Arsenal and Manchester City.’
There are signs of increased pressure taking its toll on Arteta’s team, hit with two FA charges of failing to control players in confrontations with the officials, in recent games against Newcastle and Oxford.
‘In an important game like this, respect is always at the top,’ said Conte, ahead of Sunday’s derby at Spurs. ‘To intimidate or to create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I don’t like this. I hate the people that try to do it.
‘The referee has to be free to make the best decisions. They can be positive or negative for you but we are human and can make mistakes. I don’t like to put pressure on the referees or create an intimidating atmosphere around them. We have to show respect.’
Conte is a fiery touchline presence, sent off earlier this season when the VAR ruled out a Spurs goal in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon. ‘I was really upset but I never lacked respect for the referee,’ he said.
Arteta was heavily criticised for his extreme protest in the face of the fourth official as penalty appeals were rejected during Arsenal’s goalless draw against Newcastle earlier this month.
‘Arteta is a coach like me, we show our passion,’ added Conte. ‘Nothing can prepare your mind for the emotion of what happens on the pitch. This passion is a pure passion.’