Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned his players they may never get a better chance to win the Premier League than this title race with Manchester City.
25.04.2023 - 22:19 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
When Pep Guardiola begins to feel the nerves kick in at the Etihad on Wednesday night, he will know it is a good sign. This is the biggest game of the Premier League season so far but when Guardiola thinks of the uncertainty that 90 minutes will bring, he will feel his heart rate rising.
Manchester City and Arsenal both have the title in their own hands, but for one that privilege will end on Wednesday night. Arsenal head north five points clear in the title race, but it's City who have two games in hand. Anything but a win for the Gunners will give Guardiola's side the advantage.
If City win then they can go top of the table - for a few days at least - by beating Fulham on Sunday. After a pulsating title race the finish line is in sight and it looks like the Blues are the ones handling the nerves better.
READ MORE: Guardiola disputes Arteta claim ahead of City vs Arsenal
But Guardiola will be jittery ahead of facing his friend and former assistant Mikel Arteta. The Catalan laments a younger generation taught not to feel scared or nervous for "Instagram or TikTok", but happily admits he will be going through those emotions in the hours before kick-off on Wednesday.
"I manage well but it is a good sign, being a little bit nervous," said Guardiola.
"So the people in society, the teenagers, all of them are psychologists for mental health because they don’t accept that being nervous is part of our lives, being anxious is part of our lives, being scared is part of our lives, and nothing happens. We don’t have to be perfect.
"It happened now because I have I would say what we have to do, the uncertainty, things that happen before a game, it happens so when I feel that feeling I know it’s normal. The problem would be if I
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned his players they may never get a better chance to win the Premier League than this title race with Manchester City.
Here are your Saturday evening Manchester City headlines
Manchester City return to the Etihad Stadium this weekend when they host Leeds United in the Premier League.
They might be at perceived polar ends of the football spectrum but a healthy mutual respect exists between new Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland has the same mentality to improve and score goals as Lionel Messi and warned the rest of the Premier League that the striker will be even better in his second season at Manchester City.
Kyle Walker admits to struggling with not always playing regularly for Manchester City - but is willing to park any grievances with manager Pep Guardiola and put the team first.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard admitted Manchester City were worthy winners following their 4-1 victory over the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City's game with Bayern Munich convinced him that Manu Akanji was the best option to go up against Bukayo Saka.
Riyad Mahrez gave Pep Guardiola plenty to think about with a wonderful hat-trick against Sheffield United on Saturday and Manchester City fans are backing him to start against Arsenal this evening.
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero believes his former side's meeting with Arsenal will be played with more intensity because of the latter's recent dropped points.
Arsenal could once again be without midfielder Granit Xhaka when they face Manchester City at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Manchester City will be looking to close the gap on the Premier League title race when they welcome league leaders Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola's side are five points behind but have two games-in-hand over Mikel Arteta's team so this match is a huge six-pointer.
Southampton and former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott believes that the Gunners are way better than Manchester City and they should be confident ahead of Wednesday's trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Jamie Carragher doesn't think Arsenal need to win against Manchester City on Wednesday but admits defeat would see the title race 'finished'.
Pep Guardiola hinted at another start for his marathon man Rodri after suggesting that Kalvin Phillips is still not ready to start.
Pep Guardiola said he had no excitement for a potential Treble as he refused to discuss the prospect of Manchester City winning everything.
Arsene Wenger has backed Arsenal to overcome their blip and beat Manchester City to the Premier League title but knows the meeting between the pair this month could be the 'decider'.
Manchester City's Premier League clash against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium has been rescheduled.
Legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Manchester City have a slight advantage over Real Madrid going into next month's Champions League semi-final.
Here are your Manchester City evening headlines on Tuesday, April 18.