MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥� For Pep Guardiola, it鈥檚 cut and dried.
鈥淥bviously if we lose, yes it鈥檚 over,鈥� the Manchester City manager said about Sunday鈥檚 with Arsenal.
Sitting six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, Guardiola acknowledged there were no more second chances for his players.
Reflecting on a title race when City has been the chaser, Guardiola said he felt after a seven-day span in early January when his team drew with Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton in consecutive games that City had 鈥渕issed the chance鈥� to catch Arsenal.
He felt similar at the start of March when City drew back-to-back games with relegation contenders Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
鈥淲e said, 鈥橴h, it鈥檚 run away (from us),鈥� Guardiola said Friday. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 never over until it鈥檚 over, and we are still here.鈥�
That鈥檚 as much to do with some fragility within Arsenal鈥檚 squad as City鈥檚 own improving form.
Mikel Arteta鈥檚 team has lost three of its last five matches, though just one of those games were in the league 鈥� a on Saturday.
Arsenal 鈥� the runner-up the past three seasons 鈥� is attempting to become English champion for the first time since 2004, when its team coached at that time by Arsene Wenger went the entire league campaign unbeaten.
鈥淲e are fighting an aspect that is really, really important and one that we cannot fight against 鈥� it鈥檚 22 years without winning the Premier League,鈥� Guardiola said. 鈥淲ith that aspect, we cannot fight. It鈥檚 something that makes it unique (for Arsenal).鈥�
City might be in its best form this season after winning its last three games in all competitions: in the League Cup final, 4-0 over Liverpool in the FA Cup, and 3-0 at Chelsea in the league.
Guardiola said the confidence is clear to see among his players.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible aspect for managers,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you could buy it in a supermarket, we would go there and buy it immediately.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most important aspects and of course the results help us. The reality is, there鈥檚 seven games left in the Premier League and this is a decisive moment.鈥�
Privilege, not a pressure
Asked about the pressure his team was under, Arteta said: “Who is more privileged to be in this position, I think that is the question.
鈥淚 feel very privileged, I don鈥檛 know how Pep or Man City are feeling. But it鈥檚 a privilege to have earned the right to be in this position to play in such a big, great game.鈥�
Arsenal has drawn its last two league games at the Etihad and Arteta said he was preparing for the game 鈥渢o win it.鈥�
鈥淚t will incline the balance a little bit,鈥� Arteta said of the title boost a victory would give his team, 鈥渂ut winning a game in the Premier League is so tough for everybody so after this one there will be still difficult matches for all of us.鈥�
Injury news
Arteta said Bukayo Saka would miss the game because of injury but that fellow right winger Noni Madueke 鈥渃ould be available鈥� after coming off during the Champions League match with Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday because of a suspected knee issue.
If Madueke doesn’t make it, Arteta said he would have no qualms picking 16-year-old revelation in such a big game.
鈥淗e will be ready, I’m sure,鈥� Arteta said. 鈥淵ou throw him in any context, this kid, and you know what he is going to be delivering. He has shown that this season.鈥�
Guardiola said left back Nico O’Reilly was 鈥渇ine鈥� after coming off injured in the second half against Chelsea last weekend.
These are the remaining games in title race
Arsenal: Man City (away), Newcastle (home), Fulham (home), West Ham (away), Burnley (home), Crystal Palace (away)
Man City: Arsenal (home), Burnley (away), Everton (away), Brentford (home), Bournemouth (away), Crystal Palace (home), Aston Villa (home).
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
