Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that he would prefer to be closer to first-placed Arsenal in this season's Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta and his Gunners' side currently sit five points clear of the Citizens after the reigning champions defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening, whilst Arsenal failed to defeat Newcastle United two days prior, drawing 0-0 in a tense affair at the Emirates Stadium.
Now, City manager Guardiola has spoken about the ongoing title race, claiming that Arsenal deserve to be ahead of his side at this moment in time.
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Speaking to City's official website, the former Barcelona head coach said: “It could have been 10 points between us and Arsenal if Newcastle hadn’t made an incredible effort and we hadn’t won here. I said to the players that it doesn’t change much – we still have 63 points to play for, so there are a lot of points.
"We have to continue to prove ourselves because it is normal to be in this position after four Premier League titles in five years. I would prefer to be closer, but the way Arsenal play so far, they deserve to be where they are.”
Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Oxford United in the FA Cup before they play Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby away from home, hoping to do the double over their local rivals for the first time since the 2013/14 season.
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