Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he still considers Arsenal to be top of the Premier League because they have a match in hand.
Man City won Wednesday's crucial title duel, triumphing 3-1 to join the Gunners on 51 points and edge ahead of them on goal difference.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Manchester City
MCI
|
38 | +61 | 89 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
38 | +45 | 84 |
But Guardiola said: “Still they have one game left so I consider they are top of the league. There are still many games to play. Now the Champions League is coming, the Europa League is coming, many games. It’s difficult for everyone.
"But what’s important is the fact we could have come here a few weeks ago eight or nine points behind. Losing here, it would have been almost over.
"Now, with the fact they’ve dropped points, we came here with the chance to be close. We won the game and we are there. But so far they’ve got better results than us, that’s the reality.”
Arsenal's match in hand is at home against Everton on Wednesday 1 March.
See: What's next in the title race after Man City beat Arsenal?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta feels his side lost Wednesday's match rather than Man City winning it, with his frustrations including Takehiro Tomiyasu's under-hit backpass which gifted the visitors the opening goal.
"It's exceptionally difficult to play at the level they (City) require you to play, to have the chance to win," he said.
"I think we've done it and in many moments we had them. But if you give three goals away the way we did, just give them the game - and especially when you don't put away the big chances we had - then the margin for error with them is almost zero. It's a shame because we really had them.
"We just have to move on and realise why we lost the game - and we lost it. I think we lost it.
"I don't know if it's experience, if it's bad luck. I've never seen Tomiyasu make that pass back in seven years, and he did it to them. It's part of it and obviously they have the quality to punish you."
See: Why second-half tweaks proved decisive for City
Also in this series
Part 1: Haaland equals club record as City go top of the table
Part 2: Arsenal v Man City: Second-half tweaks proved decisive
Part 4: What's next in the title race after Man City beat Arsenal?
