Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says the only reason there are several teams involved in the Premier League title race is due to poor performances from his side.

The Citizens, who are the 2.20 favourite to win the title, started off the campaign like a house on fire with five consecutive victories and many believed there was only one name on the trophy.

However, recent form has been poor from the former Premier League champions and just two wins from their last five outings has seen them drop to third in the table.

Leicester City’s 2-1 triumph over Chelsea on Monday took the Foxes back to the summit and Claudio Ranieri’s men now have a three-point gap to City, with Arsenal two behind in second place.

City lost 2-0 to Stoke before narrowly defeating Swansea 2-1 in their latest match and performances need to improve if they are going to finish in top spot.

Hart, who has received criticism for some of his displays this season, believes the current campaign has been a strange one.

“It [the Premier League] is ridiculous [this season],” he told City’s official website. “It is only because we have been playing poor that it’s open.”

Manuel Pellegrini’s side travel to the Emirates on Monday and are 2.88 to come away with all three points, while the draw is priced at 3.40 and Arsenal are the favourites at 2.40.

City have not defeated Arsenal since the 6-3 mauling back in December 2013, with the last meeting a 2-0 victory for Arsene Wenger’s men.