By Ayomide Otitoju
Pep Guardiola has said an Arsenal victory over Manchester City on Sunday would effectively end the Premier League title race, but insisted his side would still have “a lot more work to do” regardless of the result.
City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium with Mikel Arteta’s side holding a six-point lead at the top of the table, although City have a game in hand and the chance to move above the leaders if results go their way.
Guardiola warned that defeat would end his team’s title hopes, but stressed that victory alone would not decide the championship, with several difficult fixtures still ahead in the run-in.
Arsenal, who have endured a dip in form following their League Cup final loss to City and a demanding Champions League campaign, have managed just one win in their last five matches across all competitions.
The City manager said Arsenal have been the strongest side in the league so far, but urged his players to stay focused and avoid being “distracted” by the significance of the fixture.
City striker Erling Haaland described the encounter as “like a final,” calling it one of the biggest matches of the season and highlighting its importance in the title race.
Guardiola also confirmed that Nico O’Reilly is fit despite a knock picked up in last week’s win over Chelsea, while captain Rúben Dias remains sidelined.
