Pep Guardiola is ready to play two up top after his Manchester City side dropped more points in the title race.
Their New Year's Eve draw with Everton at the Etihad was followed hours later by an Arsenal win at Brighton. That allowed the Gunners to open up a seven-point lead at the top as their relentless start to the season continues.
City are eyeing a hat-trick of league titles but have now dropped points in five of their 18 games this term. The introduction of Erling Haaland has given them a new dynamic but the Norwegian wasn't able to find a winner for his side against the Toffees. As a result, Guardiola is now considering playing with even more firepower.
He said when quizzed on Julian Alvarez's late introduction: “In the last minutes, at 1-1, we needed people in the box. That is why he played. But in the end he rested one week, 10 days – it’s not much after the World Cup final.”
Alvarez was among the stars of the World Cup as he helped his country claim victory in Qatar. He was also signed in the summer and has impressed when given the opportunity. He's played second fiddle to Haaland, but still managed to score on six occasions.
Guardiola has confessed a two-man attack is now something he's pondered going forward: “Yeah it can happen. The ball arrives there, and you have two strikers that are going to score goals. But to create these chances, you have to make the process, and sometimes you need other types of players to create these chances. But of course they can play together, especially against five at the back.”
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City's stalemate with the Toffees, who got their point thanks to a fantastic Demarai Gray goal, was certainly an unexpected result. Arsenal have only failed to win two of their 17 games this term and the Catalan knows his side can ill-afford to let points slip.
"Of course the result was not expected but that is football, it is not the first time it happened," he claimed. "We did everything to win. They played really well. Afterwards they broke a bit the rhythm because the referees were not ready but, in general, we did everything and unfortunately could not win."
City are yet to play against Arsenal this term. Their fixture earlier this term had to be rearranged meaning the two title protagonists must still meet twice, which could play a major role in where the Premier League trophy ends up come May. Their first clash is scheduled for mid-February before they play again in April.
