Pep Guardiola has a habit of describing games as a final. A game billed as a title decider has a finality for one of the participants, he thinks. “If we lose, it’s over,” he said. Although, of course, some people thought the title was all over quite some time ago.
Arsenal’s lead was nine points a week ago. It could be wiped out by Wednesday evening. Manchester City have been the pursuers Arsenal could not shake off; or did not, anyway. Guardiola has caught them in the run-in before and has long spied the opportunity to do so again. “Months ago, because we dropped points in moments where we thought we would not, I saw the calendar and said when Arsenal come at home it can be the chance if we are not 20 points behind,” he said. “Six points is not a short distance but we have the chance to do it.”
