7M - Guardiola Cautions Arsenal: 'Many Things Can Occur' in Title Race Finale

Manchester City aim to maintain pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal, with 13 fixtures remaining in the season.

Pep Guardiola has expressed confidence that Manchester City can still secure the Premier League championship, cautioning Arsenal that "many things can occur" throughout the final stretch.

City secured a dramatic 2-1 win against Liverpool on Sunday, overturning a deficit caused by a brilliant Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick with goals from Bernardo Silva and an Erling Haaland penalty.

The margin could have been wider, but a long-range effort from Rayan Cherki was disallowed due to a foul by Haaland on Szoboszlai, who was also sent off for pulling back the Norwegian striker during a chaotic ending at Anfield.

This result reduced City's deficit to six points behind Arsenal. The gap could shrink to three points before Arsenal face Brentford on Thursday, as Guardiola's team plays Fulham a day earlier.

Arsenal continue to be the clear favorites to win their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season, prevailing in 90.1% of simulations run by the Opta supercomputer.

City's probability stands at 8.2%, yet Guardiola has not abandoned hope of catching Arsenal.

"We are six points behind," Guardiola stated. "It is a significant margin, but many things can occur, so securing the three points was preferable. Who knows if a six-point lead is sufficient [for Arsenal]? Thirteen games is a substantial amount, and the FA Cup is approaching, along with the EFL Cup final and the return of the Champions League in March. Injuries will also happen."

"Furthermore, other teams are competing for objectives – European qualification, fighting relegation – and facing sides in a relegation battle means they are giving everything to survive, making every match a genuine contest."

"Therefore, based on experience, 13 games represents a considerable amount of time. The run-in is exceptionally challenging, but the crucial thing is to remain in contention. All we can do is apply pressure on Arsenal, stay close, and be ready to capitalize if they stumble or make an error."

"We have to host them [Arsenal], so naturally we must defeat them."