Pep Guardiola has conceded the Premier League title race is now in Arsenal’s control, and Manchester City can only win their games and hope for the best.
Despite a late comeback to draw 3-3, Manchester City dropped two points in the title race away to Everton on Monday night, leaving them five behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
City still have a game in hand on the leaders, so they can cut that gap to two points with a win over Brentford on Saturday. But they can no longer catch Arsenal unless the Gunners drop points in their final three matches.
Speaking after the match, Pep Guardiola reflected on the state of the title race following his team’s latest dropped points.
“It was in our hands, in Arsenal’s hands as well before that game, depends on the goals conceded. Now it’s not,” Guardiola admitted. “We have to win our games. Now it’s not in our hands, if they win all the games, the title will be for Arsenal.
“So what we have to do is win our games, recover well, and then to have a series of games, three days, three days, three days. This is what we have to do.
“Brentford, recover and go for them, and after, Crystal Palace, and FA Cup final, and game by game it will happen.”
The encouraging thing for Arsenal fans is that City have slipped up at the first hurdle in these final five games, with the Gunners already having secured two wins.
The pressure is certainly on City to get a result against a high-flying Brentford side on Saturday, and the team still have to go away to Bournemouth in the final week of the season as well.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners have the midweek distraction of a Champions League semi-final, but they’ll then turn their attentions to a huge away game against relegation-battling West Ham United.
The Hammers have been in better form lately, and they desperately need the win, so it’s unlikely to be an easy three points.
The rest of this week could prove pivotal for the remainder of the season. If City slip up again and Arsenal win, it will be all but over. But if City win against Brentford and Arsenal falter against West Ham, we’ll be back to square one.
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