Pep Guardiola hasn't forgotten the last time Manchester City beat Arsenal to take a big step forward in the Premier League title race.
City completed the double over Arsenal this week to move to within two points of the Gunners with two games in hand. After being as far as eight points behind Arsenal earlier in the campaign, City have been able to take control of the title race, but Guardiola is keen for them to back up their big win when they travel to Fulham on Sunday.
After picking up a vital three points at the Emirates Stadium in February, City immediately gave Arsenal a chance to put more distance between the sides when the Blues dropped points at Nottingham Forest in the next game. After besting Arsenal again, Guardiola is keen for his players to follow that up with three points to temporarily move top of the table and strike another psychological blow.
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Noting that the mood in the City dressing room is positive and determined after the Arsenal win, Guardiola spoke of what he expects from his players in their final games of the season - pointing to the Forest draw as an example of the need to win every game possible and keep the title in their own destiny.
"Psychology is important, for the fact it depends on us," he began. "We don't have to look for anything else but to perform the best as possible to give us the best as possible chance to go game by game to be close to arrive in the last games to have a chance to be champions. People say the feeling it's over. It's not over. Will be over when it's over. It's not over.
"Still seven games. I saw 15-20 minutes of the Everton game at Goodison Park how aggressive they are, how intense and good they were [City face Everton next month]. Every game we prepare for specific things for our opponents. We have to do our game. I know at Emirates we won, everyone happy, people say City are going to catch Arsenal. We go Forest and we draw.
"It was a fantastic game but we draw. Now we won and we go Fulham, a special stadium, organised team. If we do our job we'll be closer. Nothing is for granted. We were happy of course and satisfied for the last game and performance but that's all. The day after, rest, prepare for Fulham. Do what we have to do. I know there's not 20 games left, but seven games. Still a lot of games with the Champions League around the corner.
"At Forest we had some margin, now we don't have margins. They have seven games but we have five. Really close. Always I demand performances, and the performance at Nottingham was one of the best, concede one shot on target, no clear chances. After an incredibly demanding game at Arsenal, come back late. After two days travel to Nottingham. The team was incredible but we drop points and have to avoid it."
Despite his warning, Guardiola insisted he has unconditional trust in his players and that will remain regardless of whether they win any of the three competitions they remain in contention to win.
"Don't misunderstand me. If we were third in the position, ten points behind, hypothetically I'd trust my players," he insisted.
"It doesn't depend on results. It's similar to all of you, when you win, tactics are good, if I don't win they're bad. Have to win them every single day, seduce them every single day to make it work. Trust in them, doesn't depend on results after seven years together. Absolutely not. Losing is part of the competition.
"It's nice that we are there to train to do it. We have good momentum. Everyone except Nathan [Ake] but he'll be back soon. Everyone is fit. The feeling is good but we have to prove it again. Don't get a result at Fulham, we'll be in the same result as before Arsenal. Maybe in their hands. We have to try and avoid it as much as possible."
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