- City mounted great pressure on David Raya in corner situations in Sunday’s win
- Goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki secured crucial 2-1 win for Guardiola and co
- Guardiola referenced City’s ‘record’ foul on Arsenal goalkeeper in post-match press conference
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola jokes about his side fouling Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya after their 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday.
The Blues have cut the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League to three points by picking up a fourth consecutive win in all competitions courtesy of goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland either side of half-time at the Etihad Stadium.
Kai Havertz pulled one back for the visitors shortly after Cherki’s brilliant opener but Haaland made the difference for Manchester City in the second-half to put Guardiola’s troops in the driving seat of the title race.
Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
City players were buoyant at full-time and so was Guardiola, who received a yellow card for dissent after referee Anthony Taylor only showed Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães a yellow card for a head butt on Haaland.
Guardiola aims Raya dig at Arsenal after Man City win
Guardiola was at peak humour in his post-match press conference as he reacted to his side’s monumental triumph over the Premier League leaders, a giant step towards a seventh league title for the Blues under the Catalan coach.
The 55-year-old even found time to joke about Manchester City inadvertently setting a unique Premier League record this season. “Today I’m so happy that we had the honour of making the first foul in the Premier League on a corner on (David) Raya,” Guardiola said.
“We have this privilege! In the Premier League, not one foul on the keepers all season, but today we were the first! Another title, another record that we have!”
Manchester City put huge pressure on Raya in corner situations as they looked to give the Gunners a taste of their own medicine in an attempt to unsettle the Spanish goalkeeper to try and score, making the foul Guardiola referenced in the first-half of Sunday’s win.
What is next for Guardiola and Man City?
Manchester City played their league game in hand over Arsenal in midweek against Burnley at Turf Moor, where three points will take Guardiola and co top of the Premier League standings.
Pep Guardiola issues Rodri injury update after worrying Arsenal substitution
City face Southampton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend as they progress their quest for a domestic treble to give departing captain Bernardo Silva a worthy send-off after nine illustrious seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
Goal difference and goals scored will come into the title race equation in the final weeks of the campaign as City look to go on a perfect run in their final six league games and Arsenal pray for a slip-up and try to improve on a horrid run of recent form.
Momentum is well and truly with the eight-time Premier League champions after Sunday’s win over Arsenal, who have lost all of their last four domestic matches and also have a UEFA Champions League semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid to worry about.
