What happened
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are chasing "a colossal team" in Arsenal and stressed the Premier League title race is no longer in City's hands. His comments followed City's 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, which trimmed Arsenal's lead to two points ahead of Arsenal's trip to West Ham United on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Guardiola also pointed to Arsenal's unbeaten Champions League campaign and their place in the UCL final.
Why it matters
The quote underscores that Arsenal control the run-in: if they win their final three league matches, City cannot catch them. Guardiola has now publicly framed Arsenal as the side to beat, raising the stakes on every remaining Arsenal result while City try to keep pressure on from behind.
The data edge
Premier League title race: Arsenal 76 points, Manchester City 74 after City's 3-0 win over Brentford on May 9, 2026. Arsenal remaining league fixtures cited in current coverage: West Ham United, Burnley, Crystal Palace. Manchester City remaining league fixtures cited in current coverage: Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Aston Villa. Arsenal reached the UEFA Champions League final on May 5, 2026, by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate.
What to watch
Watch Arsenal at West Ham United on Sunday, May 10, 2026, with City then due to host Crystal Palace on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Any Arsenal slip would reopen the race, while another City stumble would leave the leaders in firmer control.