Manchester City are chasing Arsenal in the title race, but manager Josep Guardiola believes they are chasing Mikel Arteta’s best team in the world.
Guardiola paid Arteta the highest compliment (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Manager Josep Guardiola praised Arsenal as the best team in world football. The Gunners, managed by Guardiola’s disciple Mikel Arteta, are in pole position to win their first Premier League title since 2004.
Manchester City remain the closest challengers but are seven points off the pace, having failed to win any of their last four league games, including a humiliating derby defeat at Old Trafford last weekend.
It would be a big surprise if rock-bottom Wolves improve further in the table when they visit the Etihad on Saturday afternoon. But Guardiola knows his team must improve after an embarrassing comeback against weaker European sides Bodo/Glimt in midweek.
“They (Arsenal) are the best team in the world at the moment,” he said. “We have to improve and I hope they give us one chance to catch them.”
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Despite being at the top of the table, Arteta is not taking anything for granted. The Gunners hosted Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday, but their final league game ended in a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal remain challenged on four fronts. They sit top of the Champions League table, have a one-goal lead over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final and will face Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round.
“You don’t have to look back at the history of that club (City) over the last 10 years and what they are capable of,” Arteta said. “We know what we have to do to win this Premier League. We are far from perfect.”
Guardiola has prepared new signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi for the visit to Wolves, with the latter expected to make his Blues debut. Bernardo Silva also returned from suspension.
Erling Haaland has endured an unusually poor spell, scoring just once in his last eight appearances.
The City manager added: “I know why we are struggling now and I know 100 per cent what is going on with the team. They are tired. You can’t rotate the team like you did last season.”
“At the moment we can’t play against European teams every three days. So let’s give them a little more time. Will that be enough? I don’t know. Once we arrive in February or March, all I ask is to get the team back.”
“After that, I swear, we’ll be there. Give us the team back and then we’ll see what happens. I have an exceptional team. There’s no doubt about that.”
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