‘Everything is open’ – Pep Guardiola warns Man City after Arsenal slip

Pep Guardiola has insisted the Premier League title race remains “completely open” but warned Manchester City that Arsenal dropping points offers no comfort unless his own side raise their level.

City have surrendered ground at the top after three successive draws, yet still sit just six points behind the leaders following Arsenal’s goalless draw with Liverpool at the Emirates on Thursday night.

Despite Arsenal failing to extend their lead, Pep Guardiola made it clear that City cannot rely on rivals faltering if they are to remain genuine contenders.

Speaking after the midweek action, the City boss said it would be a “huge mistake” for his players to believe less would now be required across the final stretch of the season.

“It’s better, of course, when the team at the top of the league drops,” Guardiola said. “But if we are not able to win our games, it is better to think of ourselves.

“It would be a huge mistake if we think the situation is better because a fantastic team like Liverpool can draw a game at the Emirates.”

Guardiola admitted he did not even watch Arsenal’s draw, underlining his belief that City’s fate rests entirely on their own performances rather than external results.

“One of the incredible attributes of this team in recent years is we found a way to win games — even when we played worse,” he explained.

“But now, when you draw a game, it’s fair. Because you have to do better.”

The City manager referenced recent matches as evidence that performances alone are not enough without ruthlessness.

“Our game at Nottingham Forest that we won was miles worse than the way we played against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton in terms of play and chances,” he said. “But we didn’t find a way in those games.”

With 17 league matches remaining, Guardiola acknowledged the mathematics still favour a potential title push — but only if City rediscover their edge.

“In terms of points, 51 to play for and six the difference, so everything is open,” he said.
“But it’s not about that. We have to win an incredible amount of tough games to be contenders to win the Premier League.”

City now face a brief pause in league action, with FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures coming up for both themselves and Arsenal. Guardiola views that period as an opportunity for growth rather than distraction.

Beyond the immediate title race, Guardiola stressed the importance of development within a squad that includes several newer faces.

“If we can do things a bit better in our process to grow as a team and a group of players that are so new, that’s important,” he said.

“It is important to live the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for the experience of many players who never played a final.”

Despite frustrations, Guardiola struck an optimistic note about the direction City are heading.

“That is the process we are building,” he added. “There are other things that I am so optimistic and positive and happy about — many things we are doing really well.”

Manchester City will turn their attention to domestic cup action before returning to the Premier League, knowing that anything less than a sustained winning run could end their title challenge.

For Guardiola, the message is clear: progress, consistency and ruthless execution — not rival slip-ups — will decide whether City can mount another charge.

Is Guardiola right to ignore Arsenal’s slip — or is this City side running out of time to rediscover their title-winning edge?