Chelsea's Frank Lampard says Manchester United remain a massive Premier League title threat despite losing at Arsenal.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now eight points adrift of the Blues, who are back on top of the table after beating Blackburn 2-0 at Ewood Park on Sunday.
Midfielder Lampard said: "United will always be big contenders, whether they are five or eight points behind.
"There is a slight gap opened up between the top two, but the big four just keep grinding out results."
Chelsea, who have dropped just seven points and been beaten only once in the league this season, are top on goal difference from Liverpool, who crushed West Brom 3-0 at the weekend.
A brace from Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea their victory at Rovers and made it six away wins out of six for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.
"It is a great, great start but if you lose your attitude or get a couple of bad results it can all turn around, so you have to keep playing well," added Lampard.
Meanwhile, Lampard's team-mate Michael Essien believes Arsenal's stylish brand of football does not produce enough positive results despite Saturday's 2-1 win over Manchester United.
The result leaves Arsene Wenger's side, who last won a trophy in 2005 when they beat Manchester United on penalties to win the FA Cup, in third place, six points behind the leaders.
"Arsenal is one of those teams that just plays beautiful football, but they don't get the points they want to," Essien told BBC's Inside Sport show.
"To play beautiful football without points is, I don't think, worth it. To be rough and get three points, or play well and get three points... win ugly or beautifully, I don't care."
Essien is currently sidelined for five months after undergoing knee surgery in September.
The midfielder, who has been a regular for Chelsea since his �24m move from Lyon in 2005, was injured during Ghana's World Cup qualifier against Libya on 5 September.
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