Pep Guardiola makes Arsenal vs Manchester City prediction after Napoli win | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is optimistic of his side’s chances of taking three points from their weekend clash with title rivals Arsenal in north London.

City can make it three big wins in three games if they can follow up recent home victories over Manchester United and Napoli with a triumph over Arsenal, who inflicted a damaging 5-1 defeat on Pep Guardiola’s men at the Emirates Stadium in February.

Mikel Arteta’s side finished runners-up to Liverpool in the Premier League last term and with Manchester City aiming to dethrone Liverpool as the champions of England with a fifth league title in six seasons, three points on Sunday would do the Blues a world of good.

A brace from Erling Haaland and a well-taken header from Phil Foden – who is looking increasingly back to his best – helped Manchester City see off local rivals Manchester United in Sunday’s derby.

Foden turned supplier to Haaland on Thursday as the England international provided a brilliant assist for his Norwegian teammate to break the deadlock in a 2-0 triumph over Napoli in Manchester City’s opening UEFA Champions League group-stage fixture.

Jeremy Doku made it two and put the tie against the 10 men of Napoli to bed with a brilliant solo goal in the second half, having made a strong start to the season himself after a hit-and-miss 2024-25 campaign that saw the Belgian struggle for regular starts.

City have overturned their early season slump with back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Napoli in the space of five days and all eyes will be at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as Arteta and Guardiola go toe-to-toe in a fixture that has had significant implications on the Premier League title race in recent years.

Having taken inspiration from his side’s run of results since the international break, Guardiola is confident of Manchester City’s chances of taking all three points from their visit to north London at the weekend.

“The team, in the last two games, has taken another feeling; composure defensively and offensively, our body language is unbelievably good,” Guardiola said in a post-match interview with TNT Sports on Thursday evening.

The Manchester City manager will undoubtedly be reminding his squad that they cannot get carried away with their recent return to form, with Arsenal posing as difficult a test as they come in the Premier League.

City have been given a huge lift with deadline day signing Gianluigi Donnarumma managing a shoutout in his first two games for the club. Guardiola added: “I’m very pleased. Going there (Arsenal) with these feelings is much better!”

It was against the best sides of the division wherein Manchester City faltered frequently last season and Guardiola and what remains of his squad from last season will be particularly keen to get a sweet taste of vengeance against Arteta and Arsenal on their turf on Sunday.