City can take control of the title race with victory.
Pep Guardiola declared that the Premier League title race will be over if Manchester City lose to Arsenal on Sunday, but urged his side not to get distracted by the emotions that come with a fixture of such magnitude.
City cut the gap to league leaders Arsenal to six points last week with a 3-0 win at Chelsea, Guardiola’s men emphatically taking advantage of the Gunners’ shock home defeat to Bournemouth to pile the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s team.
With City holding a game in hand, victory over Arsenal would turn the title race firmly in City’s favour as they seek to deny the North London club a first Premier League crown since the Invincibles season of 2003-04.
Guardola urges Manchester City focus
Having urged fans to show up early for the game with Bournemouth, Arsenal wilted with the opportunity to go 12 points clear in front of them. City’s display at Chelsea was a much more mature one as they navigated a challenging fixture professionally, and Guardiola made it clear the kind of focus they showcased at Stamford Bridge will be required again.
Asked if Sunday’s game is a ‘final’ for City, Guardiola told his pre-match press conference: “Yes, obviously. If we lose, it is over. The other two results, knowing that Arsenal didn’t beat Bournemouth – we still have games to play.
“Six games is a lot and especially in our calendar. Everton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home. Crystal Palace and Brentford. There are still many things to do.”
City gained a confidence-boosting result last month when they beat Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup final. They are still in the hunt for a treble having reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, while Arsenal remain in contention for the Champions League as the only Premier League side to have progressed to the last four.
Guardiola’s men are winless in their last five league meetings with Arsenal but when quizzed on whether City are underdogs for the game, the Spaniard said: “I understand your message but – maybe we are not. They are not at their best. Mikel said after their game in the Champions League that they are the only English team to qualify so in the end they are unbeaten still in the Champions League. They have been the best so far but we want to challenge them.
“I said today to the players, it is just a football game and we have to approach it like a football game. If you get distracted by emotions, that is how you lose focus.
“What is the target? It is to perform well and that is exactly what you have got to do and all the aspects required to challenge a team like Arsenal.”
‘Arsenal have something unique’
City’s experience as perennial title winners under Guardiola is regarded as a significant advantage. However, Guardiola indicated he views Arsenal’s desire to end a wait of over two decades as a potentially crucial point in the Gunners’ favour.
Arteta and Arsenal have received significant criticism for an apparent unattractive style of football that has taken them to this point.
Pressed on whether he enjoys watching Arsenal, Guardiola said: “Yes. People are so demanding. From the media, supporters, everyone.
“I enjoy watching them. I learn a lot in many things. People what they want is to win and we’ll fight. An aspect that is really, really important that we cannot fight against is 22 years without winning the Premier League.
“They have something that makes them unique. I know that. I knew that feeling when we arrived here. For a long time we didn’t win the Premier League. Manuel [Pellegrini] and [Roberto] Mancini did it but for our era I would say, I know how you feel that first win.
“That is something that we cannot play against. That’s why we have to focus on the way we have to play.”
