Pep Guardiola makes Arsenal title race claim after Man City beat Newcastle

Pep Guardiola says Man City will not be perfect for the rest of the Premier League title race

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City will continue to drop points in the Premier League title race with Arsenal following the 2-1 win against Newcastle United on Saturday night.

Nico O’Reilly put City in front at the Etihad Stadium before Lewis Hall pulled Newcastle level. O’Reilly then found the net for the second time in the 27th minute to secure the victory for Guardiola’s side.

City’s win means they are now just two points behind Arsenal, who play Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday afternoon.

Guardiola’s men have now registered three consecutive wins in the Premier League, while Arsenal have recorded just two victories in their last seven league games.

However, Guardiola feels his City side will not win all of their remaining 11 Premier League games.

‘Today it looks like, I don’t know what happens tomorrow, of course now we take two more points off Aston Villa , two more points off Chelsea in qualification for the Champions League, today we are closer for the top of the league, that is an incredibly good sign,’ Guardiola said after City beat Newcastle.

Manchester City are just two points behind Arsenal (CameraSport via Getty)

‘But I promise you many things is going to happen. I have the feeling we’re not going to win all the games, I don’t know about Arsenal, but I have the feeling we’re not going to win every game.

‘This is my feeling, because come FA Cup, come Champions League, travels, final of the Carabao Cup is different because there’s an international break, but many, many games, injuries are going to come, many things are going to happen.

‘The best way is relax now and focus on Leeds, then we’ll see. In the end it depends on our level, how we play, better and better.

‘Was it a perfect game [against Newcastle]? No. Is it an ideal game? No. But we were a team, a team like the way you need to be in this stage in Champions League and in Premier League games against teams like Newcastle, this is what we have to do.’

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