Pep Guardiola insists there will still be plenty more twists and turns in the Premier League title race before May, refusing to accept a claim about Arsenal blowing a ‘nine-point lead’.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s game against Newcastle United on Saturday, Pep Guardiola was asked about Arsenal’s “nine-point lead” being slashed in recent weeks.
“They were nine points because we had a game in hand,” Guardiola pointed out on Friday. “When everybody has the same fixtures, same games being played, then after we have a different [situation].
“Many things are going to happen, I said two weeks ago, many things are going to happen until the end of the season.”
It’s true that Arsenal only had a nine-point lead before Manchester City played Liverpool, with the gap cut back down to six after the matchweek’s conclusion.
So the Gunners were never truly nine clear on a level-playing field, in the same way the current five-point lead doesn’t mean as much given City’s game in hand.
Guardiola was then asked if City’s experience of winning titles could help them over the line ahead of Arsenal, but again he pushed back.
“70% of the players are new, so they don’t have experience to live these kind of situations,” Guardiola argued. “No. Experience is ‘win tomorrow’.”
City are technically in a position where the Premier League title is in their hands. Win their final 12 games, and they’ll finish above Arsenal – considering one of those games is against Arsenal.
But the same is true for the Gunners, and all other things being equal, a draw at the Etihad Stadium would be enough to keep Mikel Arteta’s side ahead. Arsenal still have the advantage for now.
The issue is that could change in a single gameweek, so Arsenal can’t afford further slip-ups.