Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City’s hard-fought victory over Arsenal offers only hope, not the Premier League title, with just five games remaining.
Guardiola Warns: “Who Is Top of the League? We Are Not” – City Not Celebrating Yet
City closed the gap to three points behind the league leaders, though they still hold a game in hand over Mikel Arteta’s side.
Despite the growing momentum, Guardiola refuses to get carried away.
“We are there, but the reality is what? Who is the top of the league? We are not,” Guardiola said after the match at the Etihad Stadium.
The win pushes City closer to a seventh league title under the Spanish manager. However, Guardiola demands his players stay focused and take every match “step-by-step.”
Erling Haaland scored the decisive winner 25 minutes from time in a tense, tight contest.
Arsenal struck the post twice in the second half, once before and once after Haaland’s strike. Kai Havertz also missed two clear chances for the visitors.
Even if City win their outstanding game against Burnley, the two sides will only sit level on points with five matches left to play. Guardiola knows the race remains wide open.
Following the match, the City boss reserved special praise for Bernardo Silva, who recently announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
“You have to write the word legend in capital letters for him,” Guardiola added.
“Not for today but for every single game during nine years.”
He described Silva as a “special player” and said the midfielder’s future team will be “so lucky.”
Arsenal have now lost four consecutive matches in all domestic competitions.
The Gunners desperately need to stop their slide, while City smell blood in the title chase. Guardiola’s warning rings loud: nothing is decided yet.
