Pep Guardiola says he did not expect Man City to head into the international break at the top of the Premier League (Getty)

Pep Guardiola admits he did not predict that Manchester City would head into the international break top of the Premier League following their defeat to Arsenal last month.

City currently sit a point clear of Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League following their thrilling 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

City’s last defeat came on October 8 when they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Since then, last season’s treble winners have won five of their six matches in all competitions.

And Guardiola is impressed with his side’s response to their setback against Mikel Arteta’s men five weeks ago.

‘They [Chelsea] are so dangerous, they are a really, really good team,’ Guardiola told Sky Sports.

‘Liverpool could not win, Arsenal… they were much, much better than Arsenal and then Arsenal drew at the end.

Erling Haaland scored twice in Man City’s 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Getty)

‘It’s Chelsea… they don’t go away and the people believe, so I’m not going to say what Chelsea have done to do what they are right now as a team. It’s getting better, the teams they play they play good. They have physicality, they have talent, they have speed, they have bench, they have a lot of things.

‘So Chelsea have built what they have done and decided to do for the next few years to be there, they always have been. Important that we go into the international break top of the league, I couldn’t expect it after the Arsenal game when we lost.

‘We’ve qualified for the Champions League [knockout stage] and we’re top of the league, where we come from, wow, that is really, really good.

‘Now rest, hopefully they come back fit, the next games are really, really tough.’

‘I couldn’t expect it after the Arsenal game when we lost.’ 

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