Manager says 70% of the players in his team this season are new
Pep Guardiola has rejected the claim that Manchester City have any form of advantage over Arsenal in terms of experience in the title race this season.
Arsenal have not won the league since 2004. The Gunners have finished second in the last three seasons, and this term they could end up being the first team in Premier League history to finish as runners-up for four straight times.
Meanwhile, City have been tipped in some corners to win the title ahead of Arsenal on account of their experience in winning it over the last decade. But Guardiola has refused to accept that.
“Seventy per cent of the players are new,” said Guardiola, “so they don’t have the experience to live these kinds of situations.”
Working towards Saturday 💪 pic.twitter.com/R2Uug4RVmr
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 19, 2026
City’s boss also said he is completely focussed on his side’s weekend game against Newcastle, rather than the distance between them and Arsenal. The Gunners drew 2-2 at Wolves in midweek, meaning that a victory for City would leave them just two points behind Mikel Arteta’s team with 11 games remaining.
“I didn’t talk about that for one second [ahead of this weekend’s game]; just Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle,” Guardiola said in his press conference ahead of the game at the Etihad on Saturday.
“I didn’t talk about the table, or our position, or something like that. I could not care less. It’s 12 games [left for City]. If you ask me this question with two or three games left, I will have your answer. It’s 12 games left, it’s an eternity.”
