LONDON — Pep Guardiola reminded Arsenal that the Premier League title race is “not over,” even though his Manchester City side is nine points behind the Gunners following a 1-1 draw against West Ham, who are fighting relegation.
Earlier on Saturday, Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Everton at the Emirates, extending their lead to 10 points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, although they have played two more matches than Guardiola’s team.
– Arsenal’s Dowman youngest PL scorer
City were in urgent need of a win at the London Stadium to maintain the pressure on Arsenal but recorded their second consecutive league draw, following a 2-2 stalemate at home against Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
Although City still have a game in hand over Arsenal and will face them at the Etihad next month, Guardiola is adamant that the title remains within reach.
“It’s not over,” Guardiola stated. “We didn’t lose today. It’s not over. We will continue,” he added. “It’s difficult, but we have a game in hand and the upcoming match against Arsenal at home. I won’t say it will be easy, but there is hope. We must always be in the race.”
“I haven’t seen Arsenal’s recent performances, but I know a few things I like. They could be better, yet it is what it is. Nine points is significant against Arsenal, but we must keep trying until the very end. When it becomes impossible, we will congratulate the winners, but until then, we must keep fighting.”
City’s campaign risks falling apart as Arsenal’s lead grows and they face a daunting 3-0 deficit in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Real Madrid.
Guardiola acknowledged that part of the issue arises from his players failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities, particularly referencing striker Erling Haaland, who has found the net just three times in his last 12 league matches.
“Erling knows we need his goals,” Guardiola remarked. “We also need to create more opportunities for him. He had a few good chances early in the first half that he couldn’t convert,” he added. “But it’s not just about him; it’s about everyone’s contributions and the overall vibe. I believe he will return to form soon.”
“We are a strong team, playing well. The players give their all until they can’t anymore. However, when we had the opportunities to score, we failed to convert, and West Ham made us pay for it,” he said.
“For us to win the Premier League, we need to be more consistent. In previous seasons, we managed to win games and find a way through challenging circumstances. This season, we haven’t taken advantage of the chances we’ve created, and it has cost us. It’s something that has rarely happened over the last decade, but we’re facing those struggles this season.”
“Next, we will take a break to prepare for the second leg against Madrid on Tuesday and give everything we have.”