If the gap gets too big it will be difficult to stop Gunners, says City manager
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the real season has started as his side aim to throw Arsenal down from the summit of the Premier League.
Arsenal have had an impressive start, winning eight of their 11 league games played and conceding only five goals, to spark hopes of a first league title in 21 years.
City enter the weekend four points behind Mikel Arteta’s team. A win at the Etihad would cut the gap to a single point and apply pressure ahead of Sunday’s North London derby, where Arsenal host Tottenham.
Guardiola said Arsenal’s consistency has reminded him of past seasons when City were locked in long-running battles with Liverpool.
“The truth is a team as strong as Arsenal in the last season, they have been impeccable in many things,” Guardiola said.
“The feeling that I have had in the past, where we have fought incredibly against Liverpool, I have had the feeling that they will not drop many points and if they can take a lot of distance it will be difficult to catch up with them.
“When the distance is too big it is more difficult but at the same time we are in November and in November, in this league, nothing is defined. What happens in February, March? Be careful. But now is the start of the season.
“Now, the international break is done, we have games every three or four days and the real season starts now.
“The important thing is to be there and to be close and after that, arrive at the end of the season with a chance that we can fight it. Winning tomorrow would be an important step for us.”
