Pep Guardiola has issued a rallying cry to his Manchester City squad: it's time to turn up the heat on Arsenal. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, the City boss made it clear that Saturday's clash against Brentford is a must-win if they want to keep the Premier League title race alive.
"Put pressure on Arsenal by winning our games," Guardiola stated bluntly. "That's all we have to do. All we can do."
The stakes couldn't be higher. After Monday's dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton—where a last-gasp Jeremy Doku strike saved a point—City now trail Arsenal by five points. The Gunners have just three games left, while Guardiola's men hold a game in hand with four matches remaining. A victory at the Etihad against Champions League-chasing Brentford would cut the gap to two points, at least temporarily, before Arsenal visit West Ham 24 hours later.
Guardiola reserved special praise for Doku, whose sensational late equalizer at Everton was his fourth goal in five games. The Belgian winger has now scored seven times this season—his best return in a City shirt—and is thriving under the manager's system. "I'm so glad," Guardiola said of Doku's development. "Not just the goals and assists, but also his defensive contributions. Jeremy has been amazing this season."
While a seventh league title in nine years might be slipping away, there was brighter news elsewhere at the club. City's women's team ended a 10-year wait for the Women's Super League title this week, snapping Chelsea's streak of six consecutive championships. Guardiola took a moment to celebrate that achievement, noting the broader impact of women's football. "Today, the impact of the women's team on society and young girls is incredible," he said. "It's the biggest step world football has made in the last decade. To see girls now saying 'I want to play football'—that's fantastic. A big compliment to the City women's team."
On the injury front, there's hope for City fans: Guardiola confirmed that midfielder Rodri could return against Brentford, while defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are nearing full fitness. With the title race hanging in the balance, City will need every weapon in their arsenal.