City are five points behind the Gunners with two games in hand.
But we could reduce that margin to two points if we beat Mikel Arteta’s men in the midweek match at the Etihad.
Guardiola has called the game a ‘final’ and stresses that getting the right result would help us move closer to putting the title race ‘completely in our hands’.
| 1 |
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Arsenal
Arsenal
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15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 19 | 33 |
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| 2 |
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Manchester City
Man City
|
15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 33 | 16 | 17 | 31 |
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| 3 |
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Aston Villa
Aston Villa
|
15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 30 |
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He said: “Wednesday is a final against a team that has been the best team in England so far and is five points ahead of us.
“Hopefully that day all of Manchester will be Blue and can come to support us because we need that incredible noise from the first minute until the end because I know against which opponent we are going to play.
“I know even though they have drawn the last three games, the way they play in big, big parts of the game, it is almost difficult to stop. You have to read exactly what to do.
CITY V ARSENAL | MATCH PREVIEW
“It’s a massive, important game for us. We know winning will give us a step to putting it completely in our hands.
“The Premier League is 11 months working, working, working. And we want to take this opportunity.
“We cannot do it alone. Hopefully all the Etihad will be full three hours before the game.”
Arsenal have drawn the last three games in succession, against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.
They were 2-0 up against the Reds and the Hammers but ended up drawing 2-2 while against the Saints it was a different story as they were 3-1 down with two minutes of normal time to play before battling back for 3-3.
Guardiola says despite these results, the Gunners remain ‘huge competitors’ ahead of Wednesday’s game.
He continued: “I didn’t see the game against Southampton but I saw the first half against Liverpool and they had momentum. I saw the first 20, 25, 30 minutes against West Ham and they had the momentum.
“I know how difficult it will be. They are huge competitors – from the manager to the players and they have sustained that competitiveness that they have. We have to be there.”
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Wednesday sees bosses Guardiola and Arteta renew acquaintances.
They worked together at the Etihad for three years between 2016-2019.
Guardiola says their relationship has changed – but only due to the location and 24/7 nature of their jobs.
Despite that, he insists he holds Arteta in the highest esteem.
He added: “It changed because he’s in London and I’m in Manchester.
“We don’t see each other quite often. He’s busy and I’m busy.
“But the affection and the respect I have for him will remain forever. He knows that.”
