Pep Guardiola delivers title race verdict after Arsenal suffer costly Brentford draw | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has given his two cents on the title race after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford on Thursday night.

City have been handed a fresh lease of life in the Premier League title race after turning the ship around courtesy of recent wins against Liverpool and Fulham, whereas Arsenal have failed to capitalise on a poor start to 2026 made by Guardiola and co.

Despite seeing the Blues throw away leads against Chelsea, Brighton and Tottenham already in 2026 and dropping six points as a result, Mikel Artete’s men have been far from ruthless and have handed Manchester City great confidence as we embark upon the business end of the season.

Brentford halted the Gunners to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night, meaning Manchester City are now four points adrift of the Premier League leaders ahead of next weekend’s round of games. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with Salford City, Guardiola gave his two cents on the title race after this week’s developments.

“I would prefer to be in the position of Arsenal than in our position. I would prefer,” the Catalan said in a press conference on Friday. “If I would be in the position, four points in front of second, 12 games left, I would not be relaxed. Imagine being four points behind, I’m less relaxed. I would prefer to be in the position of Arsenal, where they are than we are.”

On whether he is confident that City will still be competing in competitions come the end of the season, the 55-year-old added: “If we are fit, all of the squad, like we didn’t have last season and we didn’t have this season for many months – in knock-out stages I don’t know what will happen because sometimes it’s a (flip of a) coin.

“But in the rest of the competitions, we can be there. As much as we are fit, and we have the players. Otherwise, playing every three days, four days, three days, four days with few players, you cannot compete in all four competitions.”

On whether staying in cup competitions has helped Manchester City in the run-in, Guardiola said: “From my experience, in one decade here, November, December, January, February in England is so tough in the Premier League. When you arrive in March, when you are in competition, the sky is more blue.

“In that moment, it depends on how many players you have available. You cannot, in March and April, when you are not every single- so even with that, with all the squad, more or less one or two injuries, it is normal, but not seven, eight, nine players. You cannot do that. But in that position we have in the knockout stage, even being fit everyone, you can be out.

“Yes, of course. But you can compete. It is only I asked last season and this season. I was desperate to have my team back. As much as you have players and Jeremy (Doku) come back and Savio (Savinho) come back and John (Stones) come back and Kova (Mateo Kovacic) is already starting to be on the pitch training.

“When everybody can have- and after that because every three days, four days in March, after being six, seven months playing, playing, playing you need fresh here (in the mind) and legs. When that happens, after you can compete better.”

City have momentum back on their side and with the wealth of title-winning experience at the Etihad Stadium – versus a very inexperienced Arsenal dressing room – the sands of time have seemingly started to shift back in favour of the Blues as we embark upon the run-in.