I’d love to be in Arsenal’s position, says Pep Guardiola citing Real Madrid regret

I’d love to be in Arsenal’s position, says Pep Guardiola citing Real Madrid regret

• Guardiola insists beating Arsenal next weekend will be ‘so difficult’ despite City’s title charge
• Catalan admits he would love to be in Arsenal’s position ahead of next Sunday’s showdown
• Man City are six points behind Gunners after Sunday’s commanding 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that beating Arsenal on Sunday will be an enormous challenge despite growing title belief at the Etihad Stadium.

Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku were all on the scoresheet as Guardiola’s men swept Chelsea aside in a dominant second-half display at Stamford Bridge, cutting the gap to Arsenal to six points with seven games to go and a game in hand still to play.

City will face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday in what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Premier League fixtures in recent memory, with the destiny of the title likely to be shaped significantly by the outcome.

Match Report & Player Ratings: Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

Guardiola: Beating Arsenal once is so difficult

Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, Guardiola was careful not to get carried away despite the magnitude of Sunday’s result and was full of praise for the opposition that awaits City next weekend.

“They have been the best team in this country, in Europe, so far today. Beating Arsenal once is so difficult,” the Catalan said of Arsenal.

The comments reflect a consistent theme in Guardiola’s assessment of Arsenal’s season, with the City manager having previously spoken at length about the Gunners’ remarkable consistency across a campaign in which they have not lost a single UEFA Champions League game and arrived at this stage of the season as heavy title favourites.

I would love to be in Arsenal’s position, admits Guardiola

In his post-match press conference, Guardiola elaborated further on where the title race now stands and outlined, with characteristic honesty, exactly how he views the task that lies ahead.

“I would love to play in midweek (in the UEFA Champions League), to be honest. I would love it. I would love to be in the position of Arsenal,” the Manchester City manager added.

Arsenal face Sporting Lisbon in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie in midweek – before next Sunday’s visit to the Etihad Stadium – while City have the luxury of a full week to prepare for the most important game of their Premier League season.

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The Blues have now beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in three successive outings and go into next Sunday’s home clash with the Gunners in the best form of their campaign. Whether it proves enough to keep the title race alive beyond that will be the defining question of Manchester City’s transitional term.