Pep Guardiola has paid Arsenal the ultimate compliment by declaring them the "best team in the world" as his Manchester City team attempt to chase down the Gunners in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal hold a healthy seven-point lead over Man City and Aston Villa at the Premier League summit and are also top of the UEFA Champions League league phase table with one game remaining, winning all seven fixtures in the competition so far.
Mikel Arteta's side are also performing well in the domestic cups and are in contention to win a historic quadruple; they hold a 3-2 first-leg lead over Chelsea in the EFL Cup and will host League One side Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
"[They are] the best team right now in the world," Guardiola said on Friday. "Look in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and [EFL] Cup.
"Hopefully, we can be close and hope they give us one chance to get them."
Last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United extended Man City's winless run in the league to four matches - and that was followed by a shock 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League in midweek.
"I know the reason why we are struggling now," said Guardiola. "I know, 100 per cent, what's happened with the team. Try to give a little bit more time.
"I know it's a disaster having 13 points in the Champions League. Eighteen vs 13 points, one of them is one of the best teams in the world.
"For [Arsenal] it's fine, for us it's a disaster. I know our standards are so high and I know the reason why we are a little bit not consistent or not taking the results that we are having."
Haaland has 'no need to apologise'
Erling Haaland has been struggling to score goals recently, with just one strike in his last eight matches in all competitions, and the Norwegian apologised to fans after the midweek European defeat.
"Erling has nothing to apologise for," Guardiola said on Man City's official website.
"He has to do his best and he’s trying. If the team doesn’t win, it doesn’t belong to one player, it belongs to everyone.
"Don’t apologise - you apologise if you don’t give everything, so it’s not necessary."
Guardiola added: "This is one of the best captaincy groups that Manchester City has had since I have been here.
"Bernardo [Silva], Ruben [Dias], Rodri and Erling are extraordinary in many things, many details in how they are close to the club, to the team, to do the decisions for the best."
Asked about Haaland's workload in a busy schedule, Guardiola said: "Why do we talk about that subject again? Nothing is going to change. In Bodo, we had 11 players out. Aston Villa have a lot, Tottenham [Hotspur] have a lot. It's not just us. He has a physicality to maintain.
"I have an extraordinary team and extraordinary players. We are a fantastic football team, I have no doubt about that."
Guehi ready for debut
In more positive news for City, the arrival of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace bolsters a depleted defence, and the England international centre-back is in line to make his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
"Yes, yes," said Guardiola when asked if Guehi would play. “It’ll help us because Marc is exceptional. A player for the national team, a captain for the team who won the FA Cup last season.
“They (Palace) made an incredible season [last year] with Oliver Glasner and this season they struggled for themselves and the injuries as well.
“But I have the feeling [our] fragility is not just about one player. It would be nice but it’s not just about that. I know what the solution is to make us not have the fragility.”