Manchester Metropolis v Arsenal: Pep Guardiola & Mikel Arteta say recreation shouldn’t be Premier League decider
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta each say the top-of-the-table recreation between Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal won’t determine the Premier League title race.
League leaders Arsenal are 5 factors above Pep Guardiola’s aspect earlier than Wednesday’s match at Etihad Stadium.
Nonetheless, second-placed Metropolis have two video games in hand on the Gunners who’ve drawn three matches in succession.
“It’s actually essential, however not decisive as a result of there are numerous video games to play,” Metropolis boss Guardiola stated.
The 2 Spaniards labored collectively at Metropolis earlier than Arteta left to develop into Arsenal supervisor in 2019, however Guardiola says “nothing adjustments” their relationship when their sides face one another.
“We see one another much less and we converse much less however our relationship is all the time blissful,” he stated.
The Gunners have suffered defeats by Metropolis in each the league and FA Cup already this season and Arteta expects one other “troublesome” recreation.
Arsenal, who final gained the Premier League in 2004, drew 3-3 towards bottom-placed Southampton on Friday, after squandering two-goal leads towards each West Ham and Liverpool.
“If we win tomorrow we’ve not gained the league. It would shift in all probability the share, however 5 video games on this league could be very difficult nonetheless,” he stated.
“We knew we needed to go to Etihad, it is going to be troublesome, however will it determine the season? No,” Arteta added.
“The assumption is there, I take a look at how the gamers reacted after Southampton, they defend one another in each second. We actually need it and we’re once more going to indicate it tomorrow night time.”
‘Mikel has introduced them to a unique stage’
Guardiola stated his former assistant had helped take the Gunners to “a unique stage”.
“Arsenal have all the time had unbelievable particulars about retaining the ball, the gamers they choose for the membership have large high quality and expertise,” he stated.
“Mikel [Arteta] has introduced them to a unique stage; they’re so aggressive and aggressive.”
Arteta confirmed midfielder Granit Xhaka, who missed the Southampton recreation with sickness, is a doubt for the fixture, whereas centre-back William Saliba has proven “no actual enchancment” in his restoration from the harm he sustained within the Europa League penalty shootout defeat to Sporting Lisbon in March.
