Pep Guardiola makes Arsenal claim after Man City’s win over Chelsea | Football

Pep Guardiola hailed ‘extraordinary team’ Arsenal as the ‘best team in this country and Europe’ after Manchester City boosted their title hopes with an impressive win over Chelsea.

Man City moved to within 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 first half but conceded second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku.

The victory means Manchester City are now just six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who they face at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.

Arsenal, who last won the Premier League in 2004, missed the chance to move 12 points clear of Man City on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Bournemouth.

Looking ahead to next Sunday’s potential title decider against Arsenal, Manchester City boss Guardiola said: ‘The question of this week will be that we are playing next week against a team who in 49 games, lost three.

‘In the Champions League games, they didn’t lose once. I know how difficult it is. They’ve won all the games except one, which they drew.

‘Playing the Carabao Cup with Man City completely as underdogs – there was not one person in the country who bet £1 on us – that’s much better.

‘Now it will be a bit different. Etihad at home, City is on top form, but the respect I have for Arsenal – what they’ve done in the last two or three years, because I know a little but the manager but the players and the quality.

‘How they compete in every circumstances, that will be the biggest job that we have to work in our heads. This tactical issue, but maybe they will adjust something, maybe we adjust something. 

‘But they have been the best team in this country and Europe so far today.  Beating Arsenal once is so difficult, imagine beating them twice in a few weeks.

‘So we have to rest, prepare and read exactly what we have to do. But I would like to say to my fans: respect Arsenal a lot.

‘They’re an extraordinary team. They are. It’s not naive, it’s not to make them feel something that they are not. 

‘But at the same time: come join us and support us minute one. The players will do the maximum.’

Meanwhile, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes ‘everything changed psychologically’ in the title race this weekend.

‘The senior players in the [Man City] camp will be cool. They think they can get back in this race,’ he said on Sky Sports.

‘This City camp have a different 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 do that.

‘In terms of the race, it’s difficult because you go through the fixtures and you think ‘we might pick up points here, we might 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.

‘Everything has changed psychologically.’

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