Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has downplayed concerns regarding Arsenal's growing lead in the Premier League title race, despite his side's recent setback against Aston Villa. The Gunners, buoyed by Eberechi Eze's goal against Crystal Palace, now sit six points ahead of City.
City's 1-0 defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of Matty Cash's strike, marked their third consecutive loss at the ground and brought an end to Erling Haaland's impressive 12-game scoring streak. The loss sees City sitting fifth in the Premier League, trailing not only Arsenal but also Bournemouth, Tottenham, and Sunderland. Meanwhile, Arsenal's victory extended their clean sheet record to 10 in 13 games across all competitions, showcasing their defensive solidity.
Despite the gap, Guardiola remained composed, emphasizing the long and unpredictable nature of the Premier League season. He stated that he is not focused on the league table and is instead prioritizing his team's improvement. "Our job is not to look at the table," Guardiola said. "If they win all their games and win the Premier League, congratulations".
Guardiola expressed more concern about his team's position earlier in the season when they were further down the table. He believes his team is "alive" and performing well, focusing on fine-tuning "little details" rather than dwelling on potential outcomes months in advance. "I have the feeling that the team is alive, the team is good," he said. "We have to do little details better but I don't live in October and November thinking what is going to happen if we don't win the Premier League. It's game by game".
Acknowledging Arsenal's strength, Guardiola noted their consistency over recent years. "Arsenal have been solid for many years," he said. He also recognized the competitiveness of the league, highlighting the strong performance of teams like Bournemouth.
While City's manager remained positive, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team's need for improvement despite the victory over Crystal Palace. He also expressed concern over injuries to key players Declan Rice and William Saliba during the match.
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, who moved from Crystal Palace in August for £60 million (approximately $122 million), scored his first Premier League goal for the Gunners in the match. His volley secured the win, further solidifying Arsenal's position at the top of the table.
Despite the loss, Guardiola praised his team's spirit, particularly in the second half against Aston Villa. He felt they deserved more from the game, but were unable to break down Villa's defense. "The spirit in the second half was really, really good," Guardiola said. "They defended well and we could not break them (down)".
