Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has told talkSPORT that Manchester United should not be counted out of the Premier League title race.
Cech said United manager Jose Mourinho, under whom he won three Premier League titles at Chelsea, would turn the Old Trafford club into contenders.
United, who face Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday, won their first three Premier League games under Mourinho but have since fallen to seventh in the table, six points behind the leaders.
But Cech said: "I still count them as a title contender, even if they are a little behind now, because it is a long-term competition and I know the manager very well.
"He will do everything to make sure, if they can, that they can close the gap and we need to make sure we don't give them the chance.
"He spent a lot of money [in the summer]. They bought the players he wanted, so it is how well they find a way to compete and put it on the pitch."
Arsenal are unbeaten in all competitions since their home defeat to Liverpool on the opening day of the season.
And Cech said he believed the Gunners' squad depth could help give them an edge as they try to end a 12-year league title drought.
"We are a well-balanced team," he added. "We have young players coming in, we have experienced players and mid-aged players in football terms, and we have a good strength in depth.
"This is what could be our advantage. We have been rotating in every competition and we have been on a really good run in every competition.
"If we stay fit and keep everybody on board, we are ready to compete."