The Gunners start a vital Sunday in top spot and could take an important step towards the club’s first league title in 20 years with a victory over Man City. Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking for a league double over last season’s treble winners, plus Arsenal’s victory in the Community Shield. A win would move the Gunners four points ahead of City with nine games remaining and Liverpool take on Brighton earlier in the day.
While Arteta’s side are looking to learn from last season’s mistakes, Guardiola’s team are hunting for a historic fourth consecutive English league title. Man City have become accustomed to title races in recent years and Guardiola has outlined the challenge that his team face until the end of the Premier League campaign.
“To win the Premier League you have to win almost all games I would say,” Guardiola said. “I don’t think Arsenal and Liverpool are going to drop much points.
“The experience Liverpool have in this situation, the quality of Arsenal winning I don’t know how many games in a row, scoring lots of goals….That’s why tomorrow is the final, absolutely. We play a final.”
It is a sign of how much Arsenal have improved this term that Guardiola believes the game may be one of the only opportunities have to close the narrow gap between the two sides. Arsenal faltered in their last bid for the title, winning three of their last nine games.
The upcoming game against City comes at the same point in the season and Guardiola expects Arsenal to follow the same vein of form that has seen the Gunners record eight consecutive league wins. Meanwhile, both sides know that Liverpool are likely to take advantage of any dropped points as the title race intensifies.