Pep Guardiola Warns Of 'Extraordinary' Arsenal Challenge Ahead: 'I Know How Difficult It Is'

Last Updated:April 13, 2026, 15:11 IST

Manchester City face extraordinary Arsenal at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola hails their form, with a victory all set to ignite the Premier League title race.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has pointed out that Arsenal have been unbeaten for a while and have drawn only one game, adding that he has immense respect for what the team has done over the past two to three years.

Guardiola reiterated the scale of the challenge ahead, saying that it is tough to imagine defeating an ‘extraordinary’ Arsenal team twice within a matter of weeks.

Yet that is the challenge Manchester City are embracing ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners’ surprise home loss to Bournemouth on Saturday, April 11, handed City an opportunity to reignite the Premier League title race, a chance Guardiola’s men seized by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Chelsea.

The result left City six points adrift of Mikel Arteta’s team, whom they had defeated in the EFL Cup final on March 22, while also holding a match in hand. A win against Arsenal would cut the gap to three points, with City still having that extra game to play.

“I know how difficult it is. They have won all the games except one, which they drew. Playing the EFL Cup with Man City completely as underdogs, there wasn’t one person in the country who bet £1 on us; that is much better," Guardiola said while speaking to Sky Sports.

“Now it will be a bit different. At home, City are on top form, but I have respect for Arsenal and what they have done in the last two or three years. How do they compete in every circumstance?" Guardiola added.

Across the final 10 games of each of the last five Premier League seasons (since 2021-22), City have suffered just one loss in 43 matches, winning 32 of them.

They have also lost only once in their last 19 league games and are undefeated in nine straight, equalling their longest unbeaten run of the season.

News sports football Pep Guardiola Warns Of 'Extraordinary' Arsenal Challenge Ahead: 'I Know How Difficult It Is'

Read More