‘We are close’ - Pep Guardiola’s warning for Arsenal ahead of Man City’s trip to the Emirates

Pep Guardiola has warned Arsenal that Manchester City are capable of putting together an extended winning run in the Premier League.

In three of the four title-winning seasons Guardiola has enjoyed at the Etihad, the Blues have had winning streaks in the league that have stretched into double figures, and another this campaign would likely hand City a seventh Premier League crown.

Guardiola’s men currently trail Arsenal by three points in the table and would move to the top of the table with a win over the Gunners on Wednesday, albeit the North London club have a game in hand.

City haven’t looked like a side capable of finishing top since returning from the World Cup, however they were back to their best on Sunday in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa. Speaking ahead of the midweek trip to the Emirates, Guardiola claimed his team are now focused and could put together another winning streak.

“I would say the mentality is there [for a winning run],” he said. “We are second in the table, in the FA Cup, in the Champions League again. We didn’t drop much.

“The difference is because we had a team [Arsenal] that made 50 points in the first [half of the season]. When that happens, hats off and try to learn to catch up. After what we have done, I don’t have the feeling that everything was a mess. We are close and in moments we are doing really really well.

“I understand the standards are so high when you compare with the past and sometimes you don’t do as well and you have to reflect on what is not going well. You accept it. We are just in February, there are a lot of games still to play.

Asked what has been better at City over the last few weeks, Guardiola replied: “They [the players] are more focused, all of them. When we talk, sometimes you’d see distracted faces but my feelings is that everyone is more focused.

“Maybe it’s my fault, maybe I should be more active and present but this is my feeling. Whether it remains until the end of the season I don’t know. It is not a guarantee of success.

“As a manager, when you see everybody focused or committed when we talk and with what we have to do, that doesn’t guarantee success. But there is a rhythm, a feeling, that we try to do our best. What is going to happen tomorrow is already happening for destiny. Many things happen in life. I’m comfortable with what I’m watching.”