Pep Guardiola hailed ‘extraordinary team’ Arsenal because the ‘best team on this country and Europe’ after Manchester City boosted their title hopes with a formidable win over Chelsea.
Man City moved to inside six points of title rivals Arsenal with an emphatic 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea kept Pep Guardiola’s side at bay in the primary half but conceded second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku.
The victory means Manchester City at the moment are just six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who they face on the Etihad Stadium next weekend.
Arsenal, who last won the Premier League in 2004, missed the possibility to maneuver 12 points clear of Man City on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Bournemouth.
Waiting for next Sunday’s potential title decider against Arsenal, Manchester City boss Guardiola said: ‘The query of this week shall be that we’re playing next week against a team who in 49 games, lost three.
‘Within the Champions League games, they didn’t lose once. I know the way difficult it’s. They’ve won all of the games except one, which they drew.
‘Playing the Carabao Cup with Man City completely as underdogs – there was not one person within the country who bet £1 on us – that’s a lot better.
‘Now it would be a bit different. Etihad at home, City is on top form, however the respect I even have for Arsenal – what they’ve done within the last two or three years, because I do know a little bit however the manager however the players and the standard.
‘How they compete in every circumstances, that shall be the largest job that now we have to work in our heads. This tactical issue, but perhaps they are going to adjust something, perhaps we adjust something.
‘But they’ve been one of the best team on this country and Europe thus far today. Beating Arsenal once is so difficult, imagine beating them twice in a couple of weeks.
‘So now we have to rest, prepare and skim exactly what now we have to do. But I would love to say to my fans: respect Arsenal so much.
‘They’re a rare team. They’re. It’s not naive, it’s to not make them feel something that they should not.
‘But at the identical time: come join us and support us minute one. The players will do the utmost.’
Meanwhile, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes ‘every part modified psychologically’ within the title race this weekend.
‘The senior players within the [Man City] camp shall be cool. They think they will get back on this race,’ he said on Sky Sports.
‘This City camp have a distinct level of confidence. We keep saying ‘it’s not over until it’s over’ because City can come back at any time because they’ve got the squad to try this.
‘By way of the race, it’s difficult since you undergo the fixtures and you’re thinking that ‘we would pick up points here, we would drop points here’.
‘But ultimately, you’ve just got to do it. I preferred chasing where the pressure is off. Arsenal could have gone 12 points clear yesterday. They didn’t and now it’s six points and Man City have a game in hand.
‘The whole lot has modified psychologically.’
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