Pep Guardiola said Premier League leaders Arsenal ‘look unstoppable’ after Manchester City climbed to second in the table.
Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool – the three pre-season favourites for the title – are currently first, second and third respectively after wins over the weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side, runners-up for the past three seasons, made it nine victories in a row as Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice scored in a 2-0 win at Burnley.
Liverpool ended a four-game losing run in the league to beat Aston Villa by the same scoreline thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch.
Manchester City then proved too strong for previously second Bournemouth, Erling Haaland continuing his devastating run of form with a brace in a 3-1 win.
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Man City only finished third last season but Guardiola feels his side are getting ‘better and better’ as he chases a seventh Premier League title.
But City will need a drop-off from Arsenal to reclaim the Premier League trophy and Guardiola admits that looks unlikely on current form.
‘We are six points behind Arsenal, who look unstoppable right now because they play fantastic,’ Guardiola said.
‘They don’t concede goals, they are so solid, they can score from many different situations, positions and many players.
‘But even with that, I think when we make this step a little bit better (more players start scoring), we will be closer, games will be more tighter and we will be able to win.’
Referencing Arsenal’s sensational defensive record, with the Gunners only conceded three goals in the Premier League, Guardiola added: ‘Hopefully Arsenal concede a goal one day. It’s not easy to face them.’
Guardiola was pleased with Man City’s battling win over Bournemouth and believes the positive result is a sign his team are improving.
‘I like the team for many things and I give incredible credit to the victory because Bournemouth are in a good phase,’ Guardiola said.
‘They had only lost one game. They play minute one and minute 95 in the same rhythm.
‘If you are not clever and lose sloppy balls, in transition, nobody can stop them – Brooks and Semenyo are top class players.
‘The talent we had behind the lines, especially Erling, made the difference. We embraced the challenge that they do.
‘We tried to play the game that always we tried to do with a lot of passes and find the right moment but it was difficult for us because they are so aggressive and they have so much energy.
‘I had the feeling since the World Cup that we were in a good moment. It’s just 10 games, still 28 to play. Many things are going to happen but the important feeling is to be better and better.’
While Guardiola described Arsenal as ‘unstoppable’, Paul Merson said his former club looked ‘unbeatable’ after they downed Burnley.
‘At the moment, Arsenal look unbeatable,’ Merson said on Sky Sports.
‘They defend so well. Apart from the free-kick that hit the post with the last kick, Burnley never looked like scoring.
‘Everything that comes into the box is cleared. They head everything and they have two defenders that want to defend, and two full backs that want to stop crosses.
‘Then there’s Declan Rice. He wouldn’t have been far off a 10 out of 10 against Burnley. He just doesn’t stop all game. It was a phenomenal performance.
‘My only worry for Arsenal is they looked a completely different side when Viktor Gyokeres was forced off. They were nowhere near the same team.
‘Mikel Merino came on and he knitted the play together well but they never really got up the pitch and threatened in the second half.
‘But right now they are a well-oiled machine with a lot of talent in that machine, and that is very unusual.
‘They are an efficient machine but have so much talent. That is not a good cocktail for everyone else.’
Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004 under legendary manager Arsene Wenger.
Current boss Arteta worked under Guardiola at Manchester City before replacing Unai Emery at the Emirates Stadium in December 2019.
Arsenal’s Premier League title charge continues on Saturday with a home match against in-form Sunderland. Man City face Liverpool later in the weekend in a huge clash between two title hopefuls.
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