Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has recently shared his thoughts on the Premier League title race, acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by Arsenal. Speaking ahead of City's weekend match against Newcastle, Guardiola emphasized that it's still too early in the season to make definitive predictions but highlighted Arsenal's impressive form.

"The truth is, a team as strong as Arsenal has been impeccable in many things," Guardiola stated. He drew parallels to past seasons where his team battled fiercely against Liverpool, noting that such strong contenders rarely drop many points. This led him to express concern about the difficulty of catching Arsenal "if they manage to take a lot of distance".

Currently, Manchester City trails Arsenal by four points after 11 games played. While not an insurmountable gap, Guardiola recognizes the Gunners' consistency and defensive solidity. Arsenal has only lost one game this season and boasts the best defensive record in the league, conceding only five goals.

Despite acknowledging Arsenal's strength, Guardiola remains optimistic. He pointed out that "in November, in this league, nothing is defined". He stressed the importance of staying close to the top of the table and ensuring his team is in a position to fight for the title as the season progresses into February and March. "Now is the start of the season," Guardiola declared, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming games after the international break. With matches every three to four days, the "real season starts now".

Guardiola also provided updates on his squad, with Rodri and Kova out due to injury. He mentioned that Rodri is recovering well but needs time to fully regain his physical and mental strength.

Manchester City is on a four-game winning streak across all competitions, including a 3-0 victory over defending champions Liverpool. Erling Haaland is in excellent form, which is a major boost for City's title aspirations.

Guardiola's comments suggest a tactical approach of applying pressure on Arsenal whenever possible. With City playing before Arsenal this weekend, they have an opportunity to close the gap to one point. Winning against Newcastle would be an "important step" for City, increasing the pressure on Arsenal before their North London derby match against Tottenham.

While acknowledging Arsenal's impressive start, Guardiola is keen to remind everyone that the title race is a marathon, not a sprint. His focus remains on his own team, ensuring they maintain consistency, capitalize on opportunities, and remain within striking distance of the top spot as the season unfolds. He understands the importance of accumulating points now to stay in contention for when the decisive months arrive.