Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has seemed to imply that he sees Arsenal as bigger Premier League title contenders other than Liverpool in a subtle way.
City have won five of the last six top-flight titles and Jurgen Klopp’s team are the only ones to have interrupted their dominance, winning the title in 2019-20.
Arsenal, however, challenged City extensively last season and seemed likely to win their first Premier League title since 2004 but they ultimately missed out due to a late collapse.
This season, there are only 11 games remaining and all three clubs are engaged in a tight title race, with Liverpool currently leading the table with 63 points.
Guardiola’s champions are in second place – just one point behind Liverpool before their visit to Anfield on Sunday – while Arsenal are in third place with 61 points.
The Gunners have been in exceptional form in recent weeks, scoring 31 goals in their last seven top-flight matches and winning all of them.
In contrast, Liverpool only managed a 1-0 win in their last game against Nottingham Forest, thanks to Darwin Nunez’s controversial 99th-minute goal.
Guardiola appeared to refer to that game in his press conference on Friday and said: ‘Arsenal is already there, last season they were our biggest rivals.
‘Look at how they play. Liverpool need more than 90 minutes to win the game, Arsenal sometimes need 25 minutes to win the games.’
Guardiola has also completely disregarded comments made by Trent Alexander-Arnold in which he stated that trophies meant more to Liverpool.
When asked about Alexander-Arnold’s comments, the City boss completely changed the subject and said: ‘I wish him well.
‘I wish him a speedy recovery to come back to the pitch as soon as possible. Speedy recovery and next question.’
City pair Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias retaliated against Alexander-Arnold but Guardiola has tried to calm the situation down.
‘They defend the club not by responding to this guy but what they have done for many years on the pitch every three days,’ Guardiola added.
‘That is the best way. I could answer but why? It is what it is. I’m incredibly proud of what we have done and I don’t need that to feel that my players are really trying to do it.
‘I’m so happy with my players all the time over many, many years. Do you think we’re going to fight because Erling and Ruben talk? We are there and we know what happened over the last years and we are going to try again and do a good game.’
