Pep Guardiola has paid Arsenal a huge compliment
Pep Guardiola has downplayed the praise his side have received over the course of the last week and reminded his team that they’ve been outperformd by one other team this season.
City have underlined their status as favourites to defend their Premier League title with a series of scintillating displays, culminating in last weekend’s astonishing 6-3 dismantling of local rivals Manchester United.
The signing of Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland seems to be the ultimate piece in a juggernaut that now seems to be outfitted to take care of its home dominance, in addition to finally end the wait for a maiden Champions League triumph.
Despite laying waste to just about every little thing they’ve come into contact with this term, City head into the weekend some extent behind early pacesetters Arsenal, who entertain Liverpool on Sunday in what is going to characterize one other acid check of their own credentials.
Guardiola has lengthy championed the potential of his former protégé Mikel Arteta who was below extreme stress simply over 12 months in the past after Arsenal have been destroyed 5-0 by City.
Asked how a lot progress City had made this season, Guardiola took the chance to level out that though he was greater than glad with the efficiency of his personal team, there stays one side wanting down on the remainder.
He stated: ‘In normal we performed actually good soccer in all these years.
‘But it’s simply what number of fixtures? Just eight or 9 games of the Premier League season. In the Champions League we’re in a dream place, we now have one recreation left to qualify. To end first is vital and within the Premier League it’s about being there.
‘We cannot forget one thing ladies and gentlemen. There is one team that has been better than us this season, this is the reality.
‘The reality is that Arsenal have been better than us so far. We are not top of the league. It is important to be there and try to fight to arrive there.
Guardiola, meanwhile, insisted it’s too soon to say whether Kyle Walker has a chance of playing at the World Cup.
Walker, the Manchester City and England right-back, underwent groin surgery earlier this week after being forced off injured against United last Sunday.
