Manchester City face an uphill battle to regain the Premier League crown after dropping points again in a 1-1 draw against West Ham United on Saturday, but coach Pep Guardiola insisted his side would not give up their bid to overtake leaders Arsenal.
About an hour before kick-off at the London Stadium, north of the capital, Arsenal struggled to break down Everton and looked to give City a golden opportunity to close the gap at the top.
But a late Arsenal win was followed by a tepid performance from City, who for all their possession and passing could score just once against a West Ham side fighting for Premier League survival mnb8.
The result puts City nine points ahead of Arsenal with eight games to play, but with a game in hand and a potentially important match against its biggest rival at the Etihad Stadium next month.
Guardiola himself had suggested the title race could be over if City dropped points against West Ham, but when this was put to him he asked: ‘Who said that?’
When reminded that he had said it, Guardiola said TNT Sports: “No, it’s not over yet – because we haven’t lost.”
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However, Guardiola acknowledged that City’s lack of acumen had cost them yet again this season.
«They did everything, they fought, 24 shots, I don’t know how many. We had to be better in the final third, we didn’t do it, and that’s it,» Guardiola told reporters.
City have lost just once in their last 18 Premier League games, but have dropped ten points from winning in that run, including two in the previous league match against struggling Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal have finished second for three seasons in a row, the first two times against City who seemed to find a way to win, especially in the build-up.
But that quality has left Guardiola’s side, which simply no longer has the old aura of invincibility. “We haven’t had the consistency we had in the past this season,” Guardiola admitted.
Published on March 15, 2026
