Pep Guardiola has admitted Arsenal will be “more concerned” when they rock up at the Etihad next month but even a Carabao Cup final victory couldn’t mask the stark reality that the Premier League title is now firmly in Mikel Arteta’s hands.
City ended Arsenal’s Quadruple dreams with a commanding Wembley display to lift the first silverware of the season. But while the champagne was flowing in the capital, Guardiola’s mind was already drifting back to the league table and the daunting nine point gap his side still trail the Gunners by.
The City boss reckons the cup win will give his side a shot in the arm for their FA Cup quarter final against Liverpool after the international break. But when it comes to the title race? He’s not convinced it changes a thing.
“I would like to be nine points in front of Arsenal, but I don’t know if I’d change a trophy to fight for the Premier League,” Guardiola said, with a honesty that felt almost painful.
“I don’t think it will have an impact, different competition and they will be more concerned when they come to the Etihad.”
That’s the game City are now pinning their hopes on. Arsenal visit the Etihad next month in what could be the last real chance for Guardiola’s side to drag themselves back into a title race that has threatened to slip away.
But even then, Guardiola knows it’s not in their hands.
“That title will help us a lot for the [FA Cup] quarter final against Liverpool at home with our people,” he added. “Today all our side was fully Blue, I’m so happy being together and celebrating. Maybe it will help us for that game but the Premier League is in their hands, they punished us a lot.
“There were two periods: Sunderland away and Chelsea and Brighton at home, these three draws they punished us a lot in terms of points and the last ones against Nottingham Forest and West Ham. Maybe we will regret it until the end but we have one game in hand, we have Arsenal at home. Will that team drop points? We are going to try to win our games and we will see what happens.”
It’s a candid assessment from a manager who has made a habit of hunting down leaders in the run in. But this time, it feels different.
City’s domestic form has been patchy by their own absurdly high standards. The draws Guardiola referenced Sunderland, Chelsea, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham have all taken their toll. The margin for error is now non existent.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are sitting pretty. They’ve got the points on the board, the momentum, and the belief that this might finally be their year.
Guardiola’s side will travel to Anfield in the FA Cup after the break, a tie that now carries even more weight given the league situation. Win that, and there’s still silverware to chase. But the big one? That’s slipping.
The City boss knows it. He just won’t say it outright.
One thing’s for certain: when Arsenal come to the Etihad next month, they’ll be the ones playing with house money. Guardiola’s side need to win just to keep the dream alive. The Gunners? A point would do just nicely.
And that, more than anything, tells you where this title race really stands.
