Pep Guardiola makes Arsenal prediction after admitting Man City fears
Less than two weeks ago, Pep Guardiola did not believe that Manchester City were capable of being the Premier League leaders.
After a 1-0 loss to Tottenham, Arsenal had the chance to gain an eight-point lead over the reigning champions. However, a draw allowed City to reduce the deficit by defeating Aston Villa and then overtake Arsenal by winning at the Emirates Stadium.
The turnaround at the top of the league has been remarkable, and Guardiola did not anticipate City being level with the leaders, let alone ahead of them.
Despite any good fortune they may have had, the manager attributed his team’s change in fortunes to the return of Tiger Woods.
“Right now, we could be 10 or 12 points behind. We are a bit lucky,” he said. “If they won at Everton when they played to win, we lose at Spurs, we lose to Arsenal then we are 10 points behind and the game is over.
“Now we could be 10-12 points behind even [with Arsenal having played] one game less. We’re top of the league after two nights when they have been top all season.
“You never, ever, ever can give up. The biggest athletes never do. This weekend is the best weekend because Tiger [Woods] is back. He’s playing the Genesis Invitational.
“We have to learn from the greatest and he never gives up. He is two over, one over, then finishes the last round with birdie, birdie, birdie. Never give up, continue until the end.”
Arsenal had viewed Wednesday’s match as a significant opportunity in their quest for their first Premier League title since 2004, and manager Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment at losing to Manchester City, the team that could take the crown from them.
City had previously eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup, making this defeat even more painful as it also marked Arsenal’s first home loss of the season and allowed City to overtake them in the league table.
Guardiola is pleased to be at the top of the league, especially after having doubts about his team’s prospects for the season. He feels that City has once again demonstrated their winning mentality. However, he is not discounting Arsenal’s chances of still being in the title race at the end of the season.
“It’s important to be there, close to end of the season, and have the feeling that still we are there,” he said. “What I’m proud of the most is that when we drop, we don’t go in there [points to the floor].
“We drop but we are still at the top more or less. This season we nearly [dropped a lot], because Arsenal were unstoppable in the first leg and I know how good they are. We won but we felt how strong they are.
“I saw against Everton and Brentford, I felt they are still there. We won the game but they are there – and they will be there.
“We cannot be confused. Just because in the last four games didn’t win, I didn’t have the feeling they don’t follow Mikel or are disappointed at the lack of results. Still they are alive and will be alive until the end of the season. That’s why we have to continue.”
Pep Guardiola makes Arsenal prediction after admitting Man City fears
