- Pep Guardiola speaks to media on Friday afternoon
- Gives his thoughts on City’s next match
- Reveals which players are fit to start
Pep Guardiola has previewed Manchester City’s upcoming match against Arsenal, pinpointing what effect it will have on the Premier League title race.
Manchester City experienced their biggest weekend of the season last month, which saw them defeat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
However, this Sunday’s match is arguably even bigger as it could become key to deciding who wins the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the press ahead of the all-important fixture, confirming the latest updates regarding his team, as well as explaining the need to win this game.
Guardiola confirms Nico O’Reilly’s availability
Nico O’Reilly was substituted against Chelsea after picking up an injury during City’s 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Despite this, the left-back is fit to face Arsenal, meaning he can look to repeat his Carabao Cup final heroics on Sunday.
Pep 💬 Ruben [Dias] is not ready. Nico [O'Reilly] is fine. pic.twitter.com/lMtt8GFsn5
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 17, 2026
Unfortunately though, Ruben Dias is facing a more serious issue and could still be sidelined for up to a month.
Guardiola said: “Ruben is not ready and Nico is fine.”
Man City need to beat Arsenal
Currently Man City are six points behind Arsenal, so even by winning their game in hand, the Gunners would still be in the lead.
Unless City are able to defeat them on Sunday, a victory which would close the gap between first and second quite significantly.
“Obviously,” Guardiola said when asked if Man City’s next match was like a cup final. “If we lose, it is over. The other two results, knowing that Arsenal didn’t win at Bournemouth, we still have games to play. Six games is a lot.”
Even if the Citizens do manage to complete their comeback and win the title, Guardiola has insisted that he has achieved much greater things at the club.
When asked if this would be his best accomplishment, the manager responded: “No. The greatest we have done. For many new players it is good to be in that position, to learn for the future and for the next seasons. To be there especially after many years and many titles and still being in the title race a little bit is good but it is not our greatest achievement.”
Guardiola speaks about Arsenal
The controversial playing style Mikel Arteta prefers to use is one of the most talked about topics in English football.
Therefore, it was no surprise when Guardiola was asked if he likes watching Man City’s next Premier League opponent.
He said: “People are so demanding, the media, the supporters. I enjoy watching, I love a lot many, many things. People what they want is to win.”
Shortly after, Guardiola was asked about whether Man City were the underdogs in this fixture, allowing him Arsenal’s successes and failures.
“I understand your message but – maybe we are not,” he said. “They are not at their best. Mikel said after their game in the Champions League that they are the only English team to qualify so in the end they are unbeaten still in the Champions League.
“They have been the best so far but we want to challenge them.
“I said today to the players, it is just a football game and we have to approach it like a football game. If you get distracted by emotions, that is how you lose focus. What is the target?
“It is to perform well and that is exactly what you have got to do and all the aspects required to challenge a team like Arsenal.”
Man City are confident
Although City were impressive against Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks, Guardiola is cutting his team no slack.
The Carabao Cup-winning coach has made it clear that if his side are to succeed in the Premier League title race, confidence is a requirement.
Manager’s Preview:
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 17, 2026
🆚 Arsenal (H)
🏆 @premierleague
🎙️ @PepTeam
📺 Watch live: https://t.co/X3JtqZy7gd pic.twitter.com/MAl2EiDG0g
He continued: “We need to get even better. The first half against Chelsea was not bad but not great. The first 30 minutes against Liverpool was not good either. The first 30 minutes against Arsenal in the final they were better.
“You cannot pretend that these kind of teams will be 90/95 minutes perfect, but this one aspect is not about the future, present or past, it’s about confidence, which is an incredible aspect.
“If you could buy confidence in a supermarket we would buy it immediately. It is one of the most important aspects. The reality is, there are seven games left in the Premier League and that is the decisive moment.”
Thanks to their hard work, City are in a promising position and possess the necessary confidence to take all three points against Arsenal.
“It is good. We are ready. A month ago because we dropped points in moments I thought we would not be up. We saw the calendar and said ok, we play Arsenal at home and for a chance.
“It is six points. It is not a short distance but we have a chance to do it. That is the situation we are in. It depends on our behaviour and everything will be said on Sunday. Our fans have sold out. Everything is perfect to play a game.”
Guardiola will change City’s tactics
As usual, Guardiola is hoping to make Man City tough to predict, which means there will be changes in strategy at the weekend.
“Tomorrow we are going to change again. I am going to tell you now what we are going to do,” he said.
One way that the Sky Blues have been able to change is by adding new players to their ranks, and Guardiola has spoken about how they are settling in at the club.
“You are talking about the last three games. I don’t know after tomorrow what is going to happen. Maybe six, seven, eight games ago they didn’t have that feeling.
“I always had the feeling during the season that we had done really, really good things. I tried to be incredibly honest about the performance.
“Arsenal away that we drew and at Old Trafford I said many times that we didn’t deserve – we didn’t play good. The rest of the games, most of the games, we played much, much better.
“Aston Villa away for example. Considering many new players and many new things. We work a lot to make them understand what is required to be at a club like this. I am satisfied. It has been good.”
