'Kill someone!' - Pep Guardiola insists Man City would have had to go to extreme lengths to bypass dogged Arsenal defence in frustrating title-race draw

In a pivotal top-of-the-table match at the Etihad, the Gunners squared up against the reigning champions. The game concluded in a goalless draw as neither team was able to break the opposition's well-set defence. Arsenal were in incredible goal-scoring form prior to the match, however, Mikel Arteta's more defensive set-up meant that the Gunners' offence was lacklustre against the defending champions.

Talking after the match, Guardiola said [via The Telegraph]: "How to beat Arsenal's low block? Kill someone. Play with nine. They defend well and a lot. Surrounding Erling [Haaland]. Be patient and find the pass. They defended well with a lot of people. There are different ways. They did well with the press and then after the block.

“It doesn’t matter how many players you defend with, the main target is not to concede. The low block was really difficult [to play against]. We prefer to win obviously but we take the draw.”

The title is now Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool's to lose as per Guardiola, who has claimed that his Man City side are now the third favourites to win the Premier League after the Reds and Arteta's side. Liverpool currently lead the race with 67 points to their name, Arsenal sit two points off them while City sit in third place, three points off the top.

With just nine matchdays remaining until the end of the season, the title run in between the trio is likely to go down to the wire. Manchester City and Guardiola can only try and win all their games and hope that both Arsenal and Liverpool drop points if the Cityzens are to retain the Premier League title for the third straight year.