Pep Guardiola has instructed his Manchester City gamers not to surrender their Premier League title with out a battle.
The champions have an opportunity to take prime spot from Arsenal once they face the Gunners in a crunch conflict on the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Arsenal have led the desk for a lot of the season however have slipped up of their final two video games, with defeat at struggling Everton and a draw at residence to Brentford.
Second-placed City’s personal kind has been patchy however they obtained again to profitable methods after a stumble at Tottenham with a cushty victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
That lower the hole on the summit to a few factors and Guardiola is decided to not let this newest alternative slide.
The City supervisor stated: “The biggest motivation is that I don’t want to drop the Premier League just because we are not who we are.
“If they beat us because they are better then this is sport, I’ll be the first to congratulate them, as I’ve always done. But not because we are not there. You want it? OK, fight. Take it. It’s in our hands.
“We’ll defend this title until the last day. This is what I’d like. To fight to the maximum to try to retain the title. If we don’t, accept it, but we need to give our best. My players have to feel that every day.”
Guardiola expects Arsenal to return roaring again after feeling aggrieved over the style of their 1-1 draw towards Brentford.
Ivan Toney’s equaliser ought to have been disallowed for offside however a mistake was made within the VAR overview.
Guardiola stated: “They will be dangerous. When you drop points and you’re not used to dropping points, the next game you have something special.
“Watching the two games, I don’t have the feeling that they dropped the way they’re playing.
“I think Arsenal have reached a level that means that the opponent always adapts to who they are. When you arrive at that level it is because you are a good team and you have reached the level that you need to be champions. I have the feeling that Arsenal have got it this season.”
City will come up towards their former midfielder turned left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukraine worldwide was a preferred determine on the Etihad Stadium and has proved an impressed signing for Mikel Arteta’s facet.
“I’m happy for him, it’s going well,” stated Guardiola. “I think everyone here is in love with him, he was an important figure in our club.
“What I like the most about Oleks was the fact that in the first years we wanted to move him from here because we thought he wasn’t going to play much and he said he was going to fight for his position.
“He trained really well, never had a bad face, playing sparingly and always had good behaviour. Normally when you don’t play you’ll see players not wanting to do it in the gym or the extra time but he was always there.
“For the circumstances in life, a lot of injuries in one position, he took the opportunity. That is a good mindset.”