Pep Guardiola has credited Mikel Arteta with transforming Arsenal and believes they are contenders for the Premier League title. While Guardiola still thinks that Sunday’s opponents Liverpool remain his side’s main rivals in the race for the title, he has praised Arsenal for their patience with Arteta and says they will be among the clubs challenging as well.
Pep Guardiola said: “Arsenal is already there, many years wasn’t there. Patient with Mikel, he changed not just the team he changed the club. A fact is a contender, Tottenham will be there, Chelsea and Liverpool as well. What happened the previous seasons, Liverpool, Jurgen [Klopp] might not see it now but always I see them as a contender. If two months left I’d say maybe too late. Just one-quarter of the season. Lots of games to play, many things can happen. Always Premier League is fascinating, many teams challenge to be champion. Last seasons, Liverpool and ourselves concentrate this chance as champions. Why should I say no now when we are in October. In October nobody is champions or out of the road.”
Ahead of Sunday’s heavyweight bout with Liverpool, Guardiola was also asked if City will be playing against history considering their poor record at Anfield, with the Blues only winning on the red half of Merseyside once during his reign.
Pep Gaurdiola added: “If we count about history, is it one decade, two decade or 40-50 years? Reality is Manchester City arrive and want to stay here to compete against Liverpool, United and other teams. The club evolve, everyone wants to stay and we fight every day for that. It’s not for granted. It’s not for granted we’ll still be here. Look what happened in Champions League, incredible teams out in group stage. We have to be here, you have to win it every single day. Because the opponents is getting better, they want to challenge us, say okay you are champions, we want to be the champions. To stay there you have to continue to do it.”
