Pep Guardiola has said that if Arsenal FC defeat Manchester City FC on Sunday, it could effectively decide the Premier League title race. However, he stressed that even a win for City would not guarantee anything, as there is still a lot left to play for.
Arsenal currently sit six points clear at the top of the table, although City have the advantage of playing at home and still have a game in hand. A victory for Guardiola’s side, followed by another win against Burnley, could see them climb back to the top for the first time in months.
Despite Arsenal pushing for their first league title in over two decades, their recent form has been inconsistent. After losing the League Cup final to City, they have managed just one win in their last five matches across all competitions. Still, Guardiola remains cautious, especially with challenging fixtures ahead against Everton and Bournemouth.
“If we lose, yeah, it’s over,” Guardiola said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. “But the other two results, knowing that Arsenal didn’t win against Bournemouth, we still have games to play. Six games is a lot, given our calendar especially.”
City may also have a slight advantage in terms of preparation, as Arsenal had to battle through a demanding Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon during the week, while City have had more time to rest and prepare. Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta praised his team’s resilience, highlighting their ability to compete across multiple competitions.
Guardiola also reminded his players to stay focused and not get overwhelmed by the pressure surrounding the title race, emphasizing the need to treat the match like any other.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland described the game as being similar to a final, noting that these are the kind of high-stakes matches players look forward to.
The City boss also confirmed that Nico O’Reilly is fit to play despite concerns after picking up a knock during their recent win over Chelsea.