Guardiola urges Man City to control their destiny by beating Arsenal

‘We cannot deny how important it is’: Pep Guardiola calls for Man City to put ‘destiny in their hands’ by beating Arsenal in their race for the Premier League title… but insists tomorrow’s clash will NOT define their season

• Manchester City host Arsenal in a blockbuster clash at the Etihad Stadium
• Pep Guardiola has called on his side to take control of their own destiny
• Victory over Arsenal would take City closer to the title and a potential treble 

Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City cannot shirk the importance of Wednesday’s title clash with Arsenal but insisted it will not define the season.

City can go within two points and still possess two matches in hand if they were to beat Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola called on home supporters to arrive ‘three hours before’ kick-off following the weekend FA Cup victory against Sheffield United and wants City to take control of their own destiny.

‘Perfection doesn’t exist in football,’ he said. ‘Against top teams your standards have to be so, so high, read exactly what you have to do to impose your game.

‘Tomorrow is really important, not decisive because there are many tough games for both sides. We have more tough games to play but cannot deny how important it is.’

Pep Guardiola admitted he cannot deny the importance of Man City’s clash with Arsenal

Guardiola has called for Man City fans to arrive three hours before kick-off to support the team

The Man City boss admitted being impressed by the steps taken by Arsenal this season

Guardiola, whose side are on a 16-game unbeaten run in all competitions, believes that his time have thrived by treating every game ‘as a final’ with three trophies still on the line.

‘I have that feeling that it’s the truth,’ he added. ‘We can see the end: really, really close. To arrive at this decisive part of the league and have it in our hands. If they win, destiny will be in their hands and if we win, destiny is in our hands.

‘When you lose people say the physicality is not good, that is b*******. My team, we arrive in the end of the season we know we can lose games and the situation will be over.

‘In October, November you cannot have that feeling – especially when you make back-to-back championships.

‘The first season we made 100 points we started like every game is a final, every game is final. Now we don’t have that.

‘But in the last few months that is the truth, with the FA Cup and Champions League. Every year it will be more a more difficult and Arsenal in the last years were always there. This season they made another step. I have been impressed, they have been really good.’

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