“We’re good, we’re ready” – Pep Guardiola delivers peak into Manchester City camp ahead of titanic Arsenal battle | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has described Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium as a final in all but name, admitting the title race will effectively be over for Manchester City if they fail to win.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, the 55-year-old delivered a wide-ranging assessment of where City stand heading into the most consequential fixture of their season.

City head into the game off the back of successive wins over Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, with momentum firmly behind them at precisely the point in the season where Guardiola’s teams have historically been at their most dangerous. A sold-out Etihad Stadium awaits on Sunday.

Guardiola: If we lose vs Arsenal, title race will be over

Asked whether Sunday represents a final, Guardiola did not hesitate. “Yeah, obviously. If we lose, yeah, it’s over. But the other two results, knowing that Arsenal didn’t win against Bournemouth, still we have games to play,” the Catalan said.

“Six games is a lot, our calendar, it’s terrible I would say: Everton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Brentford. Crystal Palace, look what’s going on! Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in Europe. Still many things to do.”

On whether winning the title this season would represent his greatest achievement at the club, Guardiola added: “(No), the greatest has been done. For many new players it’s good to be in this position, to learn, to learn for the future, for all seasons.”

It’s just a football game, admits Guardiola

Despite the enormity of the occasion, Guardiola has insisted that the key to City’s approach on Sunday will be avoiding the emotional weight of the fixture consuming his players’ focus.

“Today I will say to the Manchester City players, ‘It’s just a football game’,” Guardiola said. “So we have to approach it like a football game. Really important, of course, but if we are distracted too much by emotions, this kind of things, after you will lose the focus. What is the target? It’s to perform well. That is exactly what we have to do.”

Guardiola also offered a revealing insight into his genuine admiration for Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal, pushing back on any suggestion that his praise for the Gunners is merely diplomatic.

The Manchester City manager added: “People are so demanding; from the media, supporters, everyone. I enjoy watching them. I learn a lot in many, many things. And the people, what they want is to win.

“And we fight in an aspect that is really, really important that we cannot fight again; 22 years without winning the Premier League. In that aspect, we cannot fight. They have something that makes them unique.”

Guardiola: We have the chance to do it

On the mood within City’s camp ahead of the game, Guardiola struck a tone of quiet confidence, setting out precisely what he believes will be required from his side across 95 minutes on Sunday.

“We are good, we are ready,” he said. “Six points is not a short distance but we have the chance to do it. Now it depends on our behaviour, and everything will be set; the team will be ready, our fans sold out, come there. Everything is perfect to try to play the game.

“We have to do a perfect performance, almost a top, top level to win these type of rivals. If we play like the second-half (of the Carabao Cup final) during 95 minutes and they play like their second-half during 95 minutes, we are going to win. Well, maybe not, because football is unpredictable. But we will be closer. That is what we want.

“Of course, we respect them so much. It’s not necessary to tell again. What they have done, the quality they have, and everything, I don’t have any doubts about that. But how we approach, and what we have to do, always I’m focussed on these type of things.”

City’s players have echoed their manager’s conviction in the build-up. Antoine Semenyo described the fixture as “title-deciding, maybe” while Declan Rice admitted from the Arsenal camp that losing the Carabao Cup final to City last month “still hurts”. On Sunday, both sides will get their chance to settle it on the pitch.