City reclaimed top spot after surrendering it for a couple of hours to Manchester United courtesy of David Silva's close-range effort in a 1-0 win over Arsenal. Once again their lead is two points, so with their massive goal difference advantage, a draw against Stoke at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday will be enough to claim the initiative on Christmas Day for the first time since 1929. That is only a stepping stone for Mancini, though. And after visiting Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United already this term, it does seem the odds are stacked in his side's favour. "We played at Tottenham, we played against United away, we played against Chelsea away, we played against Liverpool away. At home it won't be easy but it will be better for us," said Mancini. "In the next two months United have to play Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal away and City. This is important. "But we know United are a really strong team. We can't think we can win the title without fighting against United. This is impossible." City just about deserved to edge an entertaining contest, with Mancini turning Arsenal claims for a penalty against Micah Richards on its head by pointing out both Alex Song and Mikel Arteta might easily have been sent off for second bookable offences. As it turned out, Silva was on hand to nudge home a Sergio Aguero flick from close range and Joe Hart sealed the points when he made a magnificent save to deny Thomas Vermaelen in the final minutes. "Joe Hart is there for this," said Mancini. "He is there to save everything and he saved two or three chances." Mancini was also full of praise for Mario Balotelli, who produced a mature display, including the cross that led to Silva's crucial goal. It has been another crazy week for the madcap Italian, who broke a curfew ahead of the Chelsea defeat last Monday by nipping out for a curry on Saturday night and then became embroiled in a training-ground skirmish with Micah Richards on Thursday. Indeed, it is a measure of Balotelli's unpredictability that while rumours of a trip round Manchester city centre on Saturday night dressed in a blue Santa's outfit dishing out money proved to be false, Mancini did not actually dismiss the idea. "I don't know - with Mario it is possible," said the City boss. "It could be. He was in the hotel. But it was forbidden to bring fire(works)."
