Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed he instructed his players to disregard Arsenal’s surprising Premier League draw against Sunderland ahead of their crucial clash against Liverpool.
The Gunners unexpectedly dropped points at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. This rare stumble briefly opened an opportunity for City or Liverpool to close the gap at the top of the table. Despite this development, Guardiola urged his squad to maintain focus on their own performance rather than Arsenal’s setback.
“We all noticed Arsenal dropped points and conceded two goals,” Guardiola stated. “But I told the players: ‘Don’t do this because Arsenal didn’t win. Do it because we believe in ourselves. We must show the English champions we’re ready to compete with them this season.'”
The manager’s approach proved effective as Manchester City dominated Liverpool in a 3-0 victory on Sunday. This result propelled City into second position in the Premier League standings. They leapfrogged Chelsea and now trail leaders Arsenal by just four points as the league pauses for international fixtures.
Carragher: Arsenal Remain Team to Beat
Despite Manchester City’s impressive form, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher maintains that Arsenal are still the Premier League’s benchmark team. Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher described the Gunners as “the best team” in the competition this season.
“City have caught Arsenal from behind twice in recent seasons,” Carragher noted. “While Liverpool are champions, City outplayed them comprehensively. Arsenal might recall previous title challenges, but they remain the most impressive side I’ve seen in the Premier League this campaign.”
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