Arsenal match ‘is a final’ for Man City – Pep Guardiola

Manchester City are closely pursuing Arsenal after a 3-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday brought the defending champions to just three points behind the Premier League leaders. 

The next three games will be crucial for City, as they look to complete a treble of trophies. They have a healthy 3-0 advantage over Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final and face Championship side Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday. However, their next league match against Arsenal could potentially decide the title, and Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the importance of the match.

Arsenal could re-establish a six-point lead with a win over West Ham on Sunday, and by the time they meet City, they could be ahead by nine points as they play an extra league game against bottom club Southampton next Friday. 

Guardiola has referred to the match as a “final to play more finals,” adding that “if we lose this game it will be almost over.”