Pep Guardiola makes unusual Arsenal prediction as he lays down Manchester City challenge
Pep Guardiola believes it would take a significant slump for Mancity to catch Arsenal in the Premier League title race… as he predicts Mikel Arteta’s squad will reach 100 points this season.
Champions City have an opportunity to move within five points of the Gunners when they travel to Chelsea on Thursday. On Tuesday, the league leaders were held to a draw by Newcastle.
Nevertheless, Guardiola was impressed by what he saw from Arteta’s squad and believes City will have little room for error for the remainder of the season.
“The way to reduce the gap is by playing good and winning games,” said Guardiola at a press conference to preview the trip to Stamford Bridge. “But they (Arsenal) are going to do 100 or more points the way they have gone so far. If they continue this way, we will not catch them.
“We have to be almost perfect, I would say, from here to the end of the season and hope they drop a little bit in their performance, because yesterday they were excellent.
“We will see what happens.”
Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games entering Thursday’s match, but Guardiola does not anticipate an easy evening.
Sunday’s FA Cup match is the first of two consecutive meetings with the Blues, as Graham Potter’s team travels to the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said: “It’s a tough game, (against) a tough side, well managed. Stamford Bridge – what can I say? It doesn’t matter what position you are when you travel there, it’s always difficult.
“But, at the same time, we looking forward to this week, and these next two weeks, for the different competitions and especially the Premier League.”
In the coming month, City has a Carabao Cup quarterfinal, a Manchester derby, and two matches against Tottenham.
Rico Lewis will hope to retain his starting position after catching the eye since the return of premier league football following the World Cup. The 18-year-old has excelled at right-back, where he was selected over the returning Kyle Walker.
There have been rumors that the Academy graduate could be offered a new contract, but while Guardiola declined to comment on this, he did admit that he has been very impressed.
Guardiola said: “On the contract, I’m not the person, I don’t know the decision of the club. But what he’s done in last three games against top sides, under big pressure, how good he played, was beyond my expectations. When we review the games, everything is well done.
“He is such an intelligent player and can play in different positions. We are delighted the Academy has produced another top player and we hope he can stay for a long time.”
Pep Guardiola makes unusual Arsenal prediction as he lays down Manchester City challenge
