Join the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter and get behind-the-scenes access and unrivalled insightJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterPep Guardiola has a habit of describing games as a final. A game billed as a title decider has a finality for one of the participants, he thinks. “If we lose, it’s over,” he said. Although, of course, some people thought the title was all over quite some time ago.Arsenal’s lead was nine points a week ago. It could be wiped out by Wednesday evening. Manchester City have been the pursuers Arsenal could not shake off; or did not, anyway. Guardiola has caught them in the run-in before and has long spied the opportunity to do so again. “Months ago, because we dropped points in moments where we thought we would not, I saw the calendar and said when Arsenal come at home it can be the chance if we are not 20 points behind,” he said. “Six points is not a short distance but we have the chance to do it.”The momentum, too. In one respect, anyway. Arsenal are actually in better form in the Premier League, with four wins in their last five games, compared to City’s one victory in three. But in all competitions City have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea by an aggregate score of 9-0 in their last three matches. Arsenal have a lone win and just three goals in five. The sense is that City are peaking when it matters. Guardiola is relishing a chance that it seemed would elude City. “It’s good to be in that position, to learn for all of us, to learn for the future, for next season. I’m glad to be there,” he said.Famously, Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are two intense individuals, but the older manager seems more relaxed. In part, that is because his past deeds allow him to be. Winning a seventh Premier League title would not be his finest achievement. “No, the greatest has [been] done,” said a man whose multitude of trophies mean there is plenty of competition for that tag. There is no doubt, though, that if Arteta can make Arsenal champions for the first time since 2004, it would represent his crowning glory. Guardiola believes that long wait could be advantage to Arsenal. “We cannot fight against these 22 years without winning the Premier League, so they have something that is unique,” said Guardiola.It also confers more pressure on Arsenal. City have looked more comfortable dealing with it of late. Perhaps Guardiola has succeeded…
Try WordAi Free
2026-04-18 14:32:17
