Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a stark assessment of his team's Premier League title aspirations, acknowledging the near-impossibility of dropping points in the face of Arsenal's impressive form. The reigning champions find themselves trailing the Gunners by seven points after a recent defeat to Newcastle, a loss that has amplified the pressure on Guardiola's squad.

"We cannot lose games, absolutely – that is the truth," Guardiola stated on Friday, emphasizing the relentless pace being set by their title rivals. He lauded Arsenal's strength and consistency, drawing parallels to past title races where Liverpool presented a similar challenge, rarely faltering and forcing City to maintain an almost perfect record. "They are so strong and winning games, and winning games in a way where they are so solid, like we had in the past with Liverpool against us and they were not going to drop many points," Guardiola noted.

City's recent form has been inconsistent, with the Newcastle defeat compounded by a 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Guardiola admitted his players were too cautious against the German side. "We didn't try. In football when you play on the green you have to try things and we didn't try," he said, suggesting a lack of self-belief within the team. He further explained that the players seemed to be playing "not to make mistakes, not to play to do something, that is so difficult”.

Reflecting on the Newcastle game, Guardiola felt his team had performed well, creating more chances than in previous encounters at St. James' Park. However, he acknowledged that ultimately, the result was all that mattered. "We made a really good game, we created more in Newcastle than previous seasons and it was quite good, but we lost," Guardiola lamented.

Guardiola stressed the importance of regaining momentum and stringing together a run of victories, recognizing the long road ahead in the season. "Now we have to regain our momentum to start winning games and being there because there is still so long in the season," he said.

Despite City's recent stumbles, Guardiola maintains confidence in his players, even those who featured in the disappointing loss against Leverkusen. "I have a lot of confidence in them, still right now I have a lot," he affirmed. He suggested that he might have a higher opinion of their abilities than they do themselves, viewing the Leverkusen defeat as a valuable lesson for both himself and the team.

Guardiola's immediate focus is on the upcoming Premier League match against Leeds United. He framed the game as a "must-focus, must-respond moment" amidst the growing gap between City and Arsenal. While acknowledging the significant distance to the league leaders, Guardiola emphasized the need to concentrate on the next 90 minutes rather than the broader title picture. "I've always had experience to talk about the next game and then after that we will see," he stated. "I know the distance is already there and Arsenal is so strong, we see it game by game they are getting better and better as a team".

With Arsenal displaying remarkable consistency and defensive solidity, Guardiola knows that Manchester City can ill afford any further slip-ups if they are to retain their Premier League crown. The pressure is mounting, and the margin for error has all but vanished.