Here are your Monday evening Manchester City headlines.
Guardiola's Arsenal plea
Pep Guardiola has issued a rallying cry to Manchester City fans, urging them to help the side in Wednesday's Premier League title showdown with Arsenal.
City sit five points behind Arsenal with two games in hand over the Premier League leaders, and welcome the Gunners to the Etihad in a fixture that will play a key part in deciding which side goes on to win the title.
ALSO READ: Guardiola sends cheeky message to United over City's treble chances
Should City reduce the gap to two points, they will be considered strong favourites for a third title in succession given their games in hand, but Arsenal would take the league back in their own hands if they can extend the gap to eight points.
So Guardiola is keen to ensure that City's good form is not taken for granted and called upon fans to back the team from well before kick-off on Wednesday.
See what the City boss had to say here >>>
Rodri goals
Manchester City midfield enforcer Rodri admits he has aspirations to become 'the best' defensive midfielders in the business, amid frequent comparisons with some of his Premier League counterparts.
The Spaniard, who scored a goal-of-the-season contender in the first leg of City's Champions League quarter-final triumph over Bayern Munich earlier this month, has been a stalwart figure in the Blues' pursuit of a historic treble this term. He has dominated the midfield, allowing his forward-thinking teammates to express themselves in attacking scenarios.
Although City invested heavily in signing England international Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United last summer, Rodri, being helped by the former's injury woes, has remained at the top of Pep Guardiola's pecking order for the defensive midfield berth. In total he has racked up 45 appearances in all competitions, netting three goals and chipping in with seven assists.
The Spaniard, who has gone from strength to strength this term, has proven he has more to his game than sitting deep and protecting the defensive line behind him. But he has aspirations of becoming the very best in that role, while also admitting that he wants to distance himself from being compared with the likes of Chelsea ace N'Golo Kante and Casemiro of Manchester United.
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