Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag have both reiterated the importance of focus as the two Manchester sides look to put serious pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. Whilst the Gunners have now dropped eight points in their last three games United and City have been gaining.
The champions are currently top of the table after their 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night but have still played a game extra. United, meanwhile, are five points behind in second having also played a game more. Ten Hag's side are still outsiders for the league but do top the form table, winning four of their last five games.
They are also one of just three sides to have beaten Arsenal this season and were the only team to do so until two weeks ago. The 3-2 defeat at the hands of Mikel Arteta's men appeared to put them out of the running, but two losses and a draw in the past fortnight for the Gunners have levelled the playing field somewhat.
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With Arsenal having a quick turnaround ahead of their trip to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime there is both a chance to move back to the top, even if only for a few hours, or invite more pressure from the chasing duo.
Neither Ten Hag nor Guardiola are being sucked into it though. The Dutchman remained set on his own team's form, saying: "What we have to do is to put us in the right position in April, so our thinking can only be on the next game. We always have to better than the previous game, and think about game for game – that is the energy and focus."
United continued their decent run of form with a 2-2 draw away to Barcelona on Thursday night but remain the unlikely challengers. They, more than anyone, will have to prove themselves consistently across the final 15 matches of the season, plus they remain in contention across both domestic cups and in Europe.
"It means that we have to win on Sunday and we have to collect the three points against Leicester," Ten Hag said. "That demands a lot of energy and it demands high standards.
"We are in the right direction but we have to fight for it [the top four.] That is two ways: one is the Europa League the other is in the Premier League. So we know what we have to do. We have to see it game to game, and to fight to get back into the Champions League."
Guardiola is still looking towards the top of the league rather than at Champions League qualification but says he doesn't agree with the bookies, who have made City favourites once more. "Arsenal still have a game in hand, so nothing has changed much," he said despite dealing a psychological blow in midweek.
"When you are a lot of points in front or a lot of points behind, yes there is a big difference, but we are tight. Momentum is when you win 10 games in a row and it didn’t happen this season. We lost three games ago in London against Tottenham.
"Momentum is tomorrow [Saturday] at 3pm – be ready, mentally, against a team that have lost just one in six, have won important games at home, with their crowd and with a manager I respect a lot for what he’s done for English football."
City have become accustomed to going on winning streaks during the run in and have pipped Liverpool to the title twice by winning at least 10 straight games. The victory against Arsenal doesn't seal the title though and will be put to the side, he said. "It is forgotten and we are just thinking about Nottingham Forest.
"We wanted to arrive with 15 games left to be close, and we want to arrive at the last eight or 10 games being there close to the top, and after make the last rush or effort. The last weeks helped us, for the results of Arsenal and the victories we have done.
"We are in the position I would have dreamed of at the beginning of the season. I could not expect to be a lot of points in front after winning back to back. That’s almost impossible."
Arsenal's position, playing first, is more desirable than chasing but given the blip in form there is added pressure on getting a result against former manager Unai Emery on Saturday.
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