Pep Guardiola issues ultimate praise on Arsenal in “one chance” admission | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal are currently the best team in the world at present, requiring “one chance” to catch them in the Premier League.

The Catalan coach’s comments come at a moment when City are searching for stability after a turbulent run of results, including defeats against Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford and in the Arctic Circle respectively.

With Arsenal currently seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and Manchester City level on points with Aston Villa, Pep Guardiola is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge facing his side.

City’s midweek setback in Norway involved action in harsh conditions on an artificial surface, and Guardiola’s side were ultimately undone by defensive errors, an opposition posing real threat in transition, and a struggle to recover momentum after falling behind.

Those issues, combined with Rodri’s second-half dismissal and a lack of cutting edge in front of goal, have added to a growing narrative that Manchester City are currently chasing rather than controlling the major competitions.

Yet Pep Guardiola has consistently refused to let short-term adversity define his outlook, stressing unity, patience, and belief in the squad, even when admitting that “everything is going wrong” in small details.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Wolves on Saturday afternoon, manager Pep Guardiola insisted that the club’s strongest rivals for the English top-flight crown in Arsenal are currently the best team in the world.

The Catalan tactician explained, “Hopefully we can be close, and getting better and better, to give us one chance to catch them.”

However, on his own set of players, Guardiola insisted, “I have an EXTRAORDINARY team, an EXTRAORDINARY group of players, and we are all together. We are a fantastic, fantastic football team. I don’t have any doubts about that.”

Those remarks underline Guardiola’s belief that the title race is not over, even if Arsenal currently hold a commanding advantage. Rather than framing the situation as a collapse, the City boss appears to see it as a pursuit that requires momentum and consistency.

The clash with Wolves now becomes critical in that context particularly after successive defeats, as City need not only a result but a performance that restores confidence and sharpens belief.

With the Champions League fixture against Galatasaray also approaching in a clash that decides the club’s last-16 qualification fate, Pep Guardiola’s side are entering a period that could redefine their season across multiple fronts.

For supporters, Pep Guardiola’s comments offer both respect for a rival operating at an exceptional level and reassurance that Manchester City have internally not lost faith in themselves.