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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Pep Guardiola says Man City players should 'forget' about Everton shocking Arsenal on final day

Pep Guardiola has told Everton to “forget” about causing an upset against Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season.

Guardiola’s Manchester City hold a two-point lead over the Gunners ahead of the Sunday’s deciding day of fixtures.

While City will retain their title if Mikel Arteta’s fail to beat the Toffees at home, Guardiola believes his side would be foolish to rely on that happening.

“What I said to the players, the last two or three games, is that Aston Villa winning at Emirates and Crystal Palace winning at Liverpool is not going to happen again,” he said on Friday.

"At that moment, the destiny is on our hands. But if you are waiting for them to drop points again, you are wrong.

"If you are thinking Arsenal is going to lose at Old Trafford, forget about it. If you are thinking Everton are going do something [on Sunday], forget about it.

"This is not going to happen. We did what we had to do in Crystal Palace, against Wolves, Fulham, Spurs, and now we have the last one. So, they know it’s win or win, otherwise Arsenal will be champion."

Guardiola believes his side will not have all their own way against West Ham and predicted more final day drama, following dramatic comebacks against QPR and Aston Villa during some of the club’s title wins.

“I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game,” he said.

“We would like to be 3-0 up in 10 minutes but it is not going to happen.

“I have seen enough West Ham games in the last few days and they have a few things we have to control. But we have two days to prepare and we are ready."

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