Key Takeaways
- Pep Guardiola says he ‘learns’ from watching Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s summit meeting.
- Arsenal lead the Premier League by six points, but City can slash the gap to three with a win at the Etihad.
- Guardiola warns that defeat would end City’s title hopes with only six rounds left after this weekend.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hailed Arsenal as a source of inspiration, insisting he enjoys studying the league leaders despite criticism of their recent reliance on set-pieces.
Arsenal travel to the Etihad on Sunday top of the table and chasing a first English crown since 2004, while also preparing for a Champions League semi-final with Atlético Madrid.
“I like to watch them,” Guardiola said. “People are hard to please, but I take ideas from what Mikel is building. Their hunger after 22 years without the league is something we cannot copy; we can only focus on our own game.”
A shock home loss to Bournemouth last weekend trimmed Arsenal’s advantage and allowed City to close the gap with a 3-1 win at Chelsea. Data firm Opta now gives the Gunners an 87 % chance of finishing first, down from 97 %, while City’s odds have risen from 3 % to 13 %.
The sides drew 2-2 at the Emirates in September, yet City hold the recent edge after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley last month.
Guardiola admits anything other than victory on Sunday would end the chase. “If we lose, the race is over. Six points behind with six games left is too much. Our fans have sold out; the stage is set. We must get the tactics and the mindset right.”