Arsenal still ´the best team in England so far´, insists Guardiola

Pep Guardiola insisted Arsenal are still the “best team in England so far”, and the momentum is not with Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

City earned a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland on either side of Kai Havertz’s effort clinching all three points.

It is a victory that means City are now sat just three points behind the league leaders, with a game in hand still to play.

Guardiola’s side have been in fine form of late, beating Arsenal to win the EFL Cup before the international break, while they are unbeaten in 10 league games (W7 D3), their best such run of the season.

Throughout his managerial career, the Spaniard has led his teams to seven wins from eight games when facing the league leaders while his team is second in the table, winning all four in the Premier League.

That is the joint-best such record by a manager in the competition (level with Alex Ferguson).

City have often proved a force to be reckoned with during the run-in, overturning large point deficits to get their hands on the trophy, but Guardiola believes Arsenal are still the favourites to sit top of the pile come May.

“Still we hope,” he told BBC Match of the Day when asked about the title race.

“But the truth is that we had a horrible calendar, and we are not top of the league. So far, they are the best team in England, but we extend the chance to fight until the end.

“I didn’t think Arsenal were in bad momentum. In the Carabao Cup, we were better. We were really good. They came here after the defeat with hunger, and we won. They are so competitive, we know that. But at the same time, we are too.

“The table speaks for itself. They have been the best. Congratulations to the guys, but don’t lose the focus. Wednesday [against Burnley] is our game in hand, and we can be there if we win.

“That’s what we have to do. Doing it will be so difficult because Everton, or Brentford, or Aston Villa, Crystal Palace. The games that we have. Bournemouth away. Last week they won in Emirates and Newcastle [United]. It will be more difficult.”

City’s title chances have been boosted to 27% by the Opta supercomputer following this victory, with Arsenal’s dropping to 73%.

It has been confirmed that Bernardo Silva will leave City at the end of the campaign, with the club captain insisting he wants to win as many trophies as possible to bow out on a high.

Guardiola only had high praise for the Portuguese international and expects an emotional farewell when the time comes.

“If you continue to talk about him, I will cry, so be careful,” he told Sky Sports when asked about Silva. “It will be so emotional the moment when he is going to leave. Bernardo is Bernardo. You cannot define him.

“I feel sometimes he has not been seen as a public figure. The stature, he is not fast, he is not strong… but football starts from here [points to his head] and finishes with the feet.

“I feel gratitude for what this guy has done for many, many years.”