Pep Guardiola explains why Arsenal are facing a different Man City beast in title race

Pep Guardiola explains why Arsenal are facing a different Man City beast in title raceManchester City are hot on Arsenal's heels at the top of the Premier League and many point to their experience as a factor in the title race - but this isn't the same Pep Guardiola outfitCommentsSportAndy Dunn Chief Sports Writer06:30, 19 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesPep Guardiola thinks that this title race is different(Image: Hayters TV)Pep Guardiola has been here many times before. Many times. In 16 seasons as a manager of a professional football club, he has won 12 league titles. In the other four seasons, his team finished second twice and third twice.‌It is a remarkable record. He will be his usual animated self in the technical area over the next few weeks but nothing will faze Guardiola in this particular run-in. The same might not apply to some of his players.‌They are on a rich, if relatively short, run of domestic form. Since the Champions League loss to Real Madrid, everything seems to have clicked into gear. But the Premier League stakes have changed. Beat Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium and win the remaining six Premier League fixtures and the title should be City’s.‌Lose and it’s over, as Pep said on Friday. And what intrigues Guardiola is that a fair-sized knot of his team have not been in this position before.WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football's greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition todayREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta's stirring final message to Arsenal stars before Man City showdownREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta makes telling comment about his relationship with Pep GuardiolaIt is almost as though he is setting a challenge for the players who are leading City into a new era. Guardtiola said: “Ederson, Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan), Kevin (De Bruyne), Kyle (Walker), Manu (Manuel Akanji) - a lot of players that made a lot for thing here are not here anymore.‌“Most of them are new and now we will see. For example, (Rayan) Cherki has not won the Premier Leag...