Pep Guardiola vowed his Manchester City side would “breathe down the neck of Arsenal” as they aim to hunt down the Premier League leaders in this fascinating title race.
City are doing just that.
They backed up Sunday’s astonishing comeback victory at champions Liverpool by taking apart Fulham in the first half on Wednesday night.
Guardiola’s men have started to gain momentum and now trail the Gunners by just three points with an intriguing battle developing between the top two.
Mikel Arteta’s side travel to tricky Brentford on Thursday hoping to regain their six-point advantage but go into the game under pressure knowing City did their job in style.
Guardiola, though, was not getting drawn into title talk at this stage of the season, saying: “We were not nine points [adrift] before Anfield, we are not three points [adrift] before Brentford v Arsenal, after that we will see.
“I always say the focus is to grow, grow, grow. It’s how we can be more consistent over 90 minutes, how we can be better and the players feel that [they are] doing what we want to do.
“‘We can do it in terms of mentality and patterns defensively and offensively. We are doing that.”
‘We have to do it again’
The celebrations between a group of City players at full-time to preserve a clean sheet epitomised the togetherness that has been forged and the character they are able to display.
The result at Anfield appears to have given City and Guardiola renewed belief that they are capable of chasing down Arsenal, despite not being at their rampant best this season.
City have the know-how of getting the job done, having been top dogs in six of the past eight seasons, while Arsenal will be hoping there isn’t a familiar story to the past three campaigns when they have finished runners-up.
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Radio Live: “There are still fragilities we haven’t seen in the past perhaps, but they still have the armoury I think to go on a crazy run now and be unbeaten and all that stuff.
“It’s not that big of a statement to say that. The manner in which they won on Sunday, the psychological side. They have gone ‘this is ours for the taking’.
“The belief runs through the whole club and fans where they think, ‘do you know what, we still have a great chance’. That will give them belief for this run-in.”
Ex-England striker Alan Shearer added on BBC Match of the Day: “I don’t think it would surprise many people if they went on a run. Particularly after the game at the weekend, you could see they were full of confidence, belief and energy.
“They have done their job tonight and put the pressure back on Arsenal with a three-point gap now.”
The weight of expectation will lie heavily on Arsenal’s shoulders before facing the Bees, with an uncomfortable night’s sleep in store after seeing City take apart Fulham in a clinical first-half showing.
But Arsenal know they can respond by claiming three points at the G Tech Stadium and if they follow it up by beating bottom side Wolves next Wednesday, the tantalising prospect of a nine-point lead awaits.
The two sides meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, 22 March, with the chance of inflicting the first direct psychological blow.
Recent history shows that seven of the last 12 EFL Cup winners have gone on to win at least one other trophy in the same season, underscoring the importance of claiming the trophy at Wembley next month.
They are scheduled to meet at Etihad Stadium in the Premier League in April but the rivalry could see them face each other another three times if they progress in both the Champions League and FA Cup.
While Arsenal did not sign anyone in the January transfer window, City added Antoine Semenyo, who has already scored five goals, and England international Marc Guehi, who contributed to a clean sheet.
Guardiola said his side are “growing”, adding: “We were together, more calm with the ball, we made inside, outside [runs]. I would say the position was not perfect for Nico O’Reilly and Phil [Foden], but sometimes it happens to be in better positions, but in general, I’m really pleased.
“We suffered a lot at Fulham and today, after physically and emotionally at Anfield, it is really tricky, but we talked a lot, and I said ‘guys, we have to do it again’, and we did it.”
Haaland feeling some ‘niggles’
A long and arduous season is bound to take its toll at some stage, and star striker Erling Haaland could do with a rest.
The Norwegian scored in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Fulham to take his tally to 42 in as many games this season for club and country.
The 25-year-old, though, scored his first non-penalty league goal since 20 December against West Ham, ending a run of 24 shots from open play without scoring.
But he featured in only the first half against the Cottagers, being replaced by Omar Marmoush at half-time.
Guardiola said the player was feeling some “niggles”, adding: “He [Haaland] said, ‘I don’t feel comfortable’ and 3-0 [ahead] with a lot of games and having Omar, common sense [to substitute him].
“The reason why? Many games.”
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