Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signalled West Ham to help slow Arsenal down in Premier League title race. After the 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, City reduced the gap with Arsenal at the top of the table to just two points.
West Ham host Arsenal at the London Stadium on Sunday and if they can get a win, City will become league leaders, should Guardiola and co. win their game in hand.
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The three points against Brentford was much-needed for Manchester City, who left it late to grab a point with virtually the last kick of the ball against Everton on Monday. Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush found the back of the net to get City back to winning ways.
During the post-match press conference, Guardiola pledged his support to West Ham with a hilarious gesture. He crossed his arms above his head and backed the Hammers against Arsenal by saying (h/t The Independent):
“Come on you Irons”
Guardiola also admitted he’s enjoying the current season more than the last one, where Manchester City were in a battle to qualify for the Champions League. He added:
“I love to be here again. We finish second again this season minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and that moment when we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League was so difficult.
“But the Carabao Cup is in our pocket and the FA Cup Final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.”
Manchester City next face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. Notably, they have lost the FA Cup finals of each of the last two seasons.
Guardiola salutes Jeremy Doku for making impact that keeps Manchester City in title race with Arsenal
Jeremy Doku is in spectacular form at the moment. He scored the opening goal and the last-minute equaliser during the 3-3 draw against Everton on Monday.
The Belgian carried that form into the Brentford game as well, where he once again broke the deadlock. Doku has four goals and two assists in his last four matches across competitions.
Guardiola acknowledged the fact that Doku has made a step forward this season and stressed on the importance of having goal-scoring wingers like him in the team.
He added:
“This season he made a step forward that players must do to try to do better and better and it belongs absolutely to him, the confidence.
“In good teams you always need people up front – not just Erling, attacking midfielders and wingers need to make actions like that to win games.”
Doku, who has a contract that runs until 2028 at the Etihad, has eight goals and 14 assists in 44 games across all competitions this term.
Edited by Nived Zenith
