Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has aimed a dig at Premier League leaders Manchester City, suggesting that the UAE-owned club's achievements have come about by "petrol" money.

The Citizens currently lead the way in the top flight with 49 points from their first 17 games - a record start in the Premier League era - and have dropped just two points all season while scoring 50 goals.

The side's fine unbeaten start has led to comparisons with Wenger's famous 'Invincibles' side of 2003-04, but the Frenchman insisted that it is not fair to draw parallels between the two teams.

"We had no petrol but ideas, they have petrol and ideas," he is quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "So that makes it more efficient and, overall, yes - they are like that, so everybody expects and projects that they will last. Why not? It can happen [that Manchester City go the whole season unbeaten], but there is still a long way to go.

"At the moment I think everything goes for them inside the games, but maybe as well they have the quality to turn it in their favour.

"They have resources. Money and quality is what I wanted to say and in their management and players they have everything that is needed to be successful. It's still not easy, they still have to respect that achievement."

Wenger's side were 19 points adrift of City in advance of this weekend's fixtures.