Pep Guardiola calls on Man City supporters to respect 'extraordinary' Arsenal

[p]Guardiola's side closed the gap on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] to just six points [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/summary/stats/?mid=bLP5yET8"]with an emphatic 3-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday[/a].[/p][p]Second-half goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-reilly-nico/xOrYaNWc/"]Nico O'Reilly[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guehi-marc/KEeklutO/"]Marc Guehi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doku-jeremy/lMHcYK4f/"]Jeremy Doku[/a] ensured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] capitalised on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/bournemouth-OtpNdwrc/summary/stats/?mid=jcHwYvNG"]Arsenal's shock 2-1 defeat[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] 24 hours earlier.[/p][p]They have a game in hand on Arsenal and victory in their crucial clash at the Etihad Stadium on April 19 would seize the momentum in a gripping title race.[/p][embed guid="d2c41ffc-3b5d-4bea-9479-c2da60022ad7" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2043380327733665824" social-type="twitter" /][p]City, six-time champions under Guardiola, are hitting peak form at just the right time, while Arsenal appear to be cracking under the pressure of chasing their first English title since 2004.[/p][p]But Guardiola is well aware of the threat posed by Arsenal despite their recent run of three defeats in four matches in all competitions, including a 2-0 loss to City in the League Cup final.[/p][p][b]"The respect I have for Arsenal, what they have done the last few years. I know the manager, the players, the quality, how they compete in every circumstance, that's the biggest job we have. There is a tactical issue, maybe we will adjust something," [/b]Guardiola said.[/p][embed guid="dfe144b6-9335-4800-8345-845b066b3120" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2043385191461208258" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"They have been the best team in this country, in Europe, so far. Beating Arsenal once is so difficult, imagine beating them twice in a few weeks. We have to rest.[/b][/p][p][b]"I would like to say to my fans: respect Arsenal a lot, they are an extraordinary team. Come to join us from minute one because the players will do the maximum."[/b][/p][h2]'Extraordinary' Cherki[/h2][p]Guardiola believes City were underestimated going into the League Cup final, a feeling which his players were able to use as motivation.[/p][p]Keen to ensure City keep that feeling, he said:[b] "We are going to play against a team that in 49 games lost three games, in the Champions League didn't lose once this season.[/b][/p][p][b]"In the League Cup final we were complete underdogs. There is not one person in this country that would bet £1 that we would be much better.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's important to beat Arsenal because we are six points behind them. If they beat us it's over, if we draw also."[/b][/p][image alt="Standings" id="b6f9e6e9-e35a-4e81-b53e-ebcf9ab1c00a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6bd725ed-bdfe-41f0-9d3d-114716d2d94e" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Arsenal have twice blown substantial leads to City in the title race in 2023 and 2024.[/p][p]Ominously for the Gunners, City have a well-earned track record for peaking at the business end of the season.[/p][p]When playing within their final 10 games across the last five Premier League seasons since 2021/22, City have lost just one of 43 matches, winning 32 times.[/p][p]They have lost just one of their last 19 league games this season and are unbeaten in their last nine.[/p][p][b]"We are growing. We have long weeks now we are out of Champions League. We are more fresh, in training, everyone knows exactly what they have to do," [/b]Guardiola said.[/p][p]One of the keys to City's surge has been Rayan Cherki's inspired form.[/p][p]The France playmaker provided the cross for O'Reilly's opener and a sublime pass for Guehi to net the second.[/p][p]He now has 10 assists in the league in his debut season with City, prompting Guardiola to say: [b]"Rayan is an extraordinary talent.[/b][/p][p][b]"He is so young, his impact in Premier League in first season, he is already an extraordinary player.[/b][/p][p][b]"He has the desire to be even better. That will be good for City and him."[/b][/p]