Theo Walcott’s early goal had City on the back foot, but a second-half showing packed full of power, purpose and precision – and goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling – wrestled the points back.
The result lifts City up to second place, seven behind Chelsea, and Guardiola pointed to three good reasons why there are more grounds for optimism.
He said: “Okay, now Fernandinho is coming back, in another week Sergio (Aguero) then Gabriel Jesus - and we will try to keep creating more and more.”
City dominated the play against Arsenal, even if the Gunners looked lively on the counter, with Sterling seeing one early header flashing wide.
Guardiola made a slight tactical tweak at the break and City were level straight after the restart, Sane latching onto a David Silva throughball to race clear and finish.
Kevin De Bruyne came up with an early contender for assist of the season, with his sweeping ball finding Raheem Sterling, who still had plenty to do before lashing a left-foot shot in.
Toure, Sterling react to Arsenal win
Man City 2-1 Arsenal: Match report
Guardiola added: “It means a lot to beat one of the best teams in the Premier League. The performance was quite similar to against Chelsea, then we created more chances. We were unlucky in the first minutes - it was a good game, we dominated.
“The victory gives a lot of confidence for the minds of the players, in what we are trying to do.
“I’m so happy for the fans - they stayed until the end, they were with us, that means we have to play good and they will stay with us. It’s three points, eight days to recover for Hull and Liverpool.”
Guardiola revealed that the players had been training intensively on second balls and that work had paid off.
The boss reflected: “The last three games we spent two and a half hours in training on second balls. It works.
“This part of the game here you have to pay attention. The last two games were a little better in that sense, but we are not a tall or physical team like most teams in England, second balls we have to be in the right place at the right moment and be intelligent. Today was a good day for us.”
On Toure Guardiola added: “What impresses me the most is his huge quality. He looks like a boy. He played awesome. It’s not always when he has the ball, it’s the personality, when we are in trouble he goes there. An exceptional player.”
