Man City’s Guardiola doesn’t care if Arsenal stumbles in the Premier League title race

Pep Guardiola insists he «doesn’t care» if Arsenal fail to get Manchester City back into the Premier League title race.

Guardiola’s side were in danger of being blown out by Arsenal after inconsistent form left the Gunners in pole position.

But second-placed City have been given a lifeline by Arsenal’s damaging draws against Wolves and Brentford.

The gap to Arsenal is now just five points, with a game in hand and a home match against Mikel Arteta’s men in April.

If City win the remaining 12 games, they will be crowned champions for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

But Guardiola is not getting carried away by this opportunity.

Instead, he remains focused on Saturday’s visit from Newcastle, when a win would close the gap on Arsenal to two points, before the Gunners take on Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby.

«I didn’t talk about the table, or our position or anything like that. I don’t care,» Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

«I didn’t talk about that for a second. Just Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.»

«If you ask me this question with two or three games to go, I have your answer. There are twelve games left, it’s an eternity.»

After winning six titles in ten years at City, Guardiola knows the final weeks of the season will bring even more twists and turns.

He also has experience of seeing Arsenal let significant leads slip in the 2023 and 2024 title races, allowing City to snatch the trophy from their grasp.

«A lot of things are going to happen until the end of the season. For now it’s Newcastle, a break and then Leeds. It’s always been that way,» he said.

«Seventy percent of the players are new, so they don’t have the experience to live in these kinds of situations. One experience is to win tomorrow. It’s only one.»

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“Arsenal were nine points ahead when we had a game in hand, so if everyone plays the same games we will see the difference afterwards.

«I understand you want to anticipate what’s going to happen. That doesn’t count. It’s Newcastle, that’s all.»

Meanwhile, Guardiola said racism remains a problem that society needs to heal, and not just football.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior claimed he was racially abused by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match this week.

The match was stopped in accordance with UEFA rules after Vinicius claimed he was abused after celebrating the goal.

«There is still a lot of work to do. It is in society, it is not just in football. Racism is everywhere,» Guardiola said.

“You act like racism is just about the color of your skin? How you behave is racism.”

“It’s the way you pretend to be better than the other person for many reasons.”

Published on February 20, 2026