Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to BBC Match of the Day on next weekend's game against Arsenal: "It's important because we are six points behind them, if they beat us it's over, if we draw also.

"Now we prepare, relax, don't listen much. Before the Carabao Cup final we were underdogs. We have to be calm, prepare, because Arsenal is an extraordinary team. We have that game, but it's game-by-game.

"We have long weeks to recover. Its a pity we could not be better in Champions League. The Premier League is about how you grow the team.

"The team feel fresh, everyone is there. We have six games left and FA Cup semi-final. It doesn't look much, but it is a lot. Many things are going to happen."

Watch Pep Guardiola's full post-match interview here...

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport reporter

One thing which is arguably in Arsenal's favour is the run-in.

While Sunday's match between the top two at Etihad Stadium remains the standout fixture, the Gunners' remaining five games are against teams in the bottom half of the table.

Manchester City, meanwhile, have to face Europe-chasing Everton and Brentford, as well as rounding off the campaign at home to Champions League contenders Aston Villa.

"If they beat us it's over, if we draw also," said Guardiola, of this weekend's crunch home clash against Arsenal.

If City are able to win and further close the gap between the sides, they could actually be top of the table by the time Arsenal next play at Emirates Stadium.

City travel to Burnley on Wednesday, 22 April. Another victory in that match would send them to the summit with five to play...

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Neville said in his commentary on Sky Sports, following Manchester City's win at Chelsea, that Pep Guardiola's side are "smelling blood" in the title race as they head into a "monstrous clash" at home to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday.

However, in 'The Gary Neville Podcast', the former Manchester United and England defender said the Gunners had to "swim against the tide and hold their nerve".

"I said a few months ago that Arsenal have to win this title from the position that they're in and I still believe they have to because it's a long road back at the end of the season. If they don't win it this year, it will really be traumatic," he said, after Arsenal finished second in the past three seasons.

"We know the build-up to the game next week, what the narrative is going to be against Arsenal - that Man City are going to catch you, and there seems to be a sense of joy watching Arsenal collapse. They've got to try and swim against the tide and hold their nerve."

And he added: "They've got to find a balance of that emotion that you need, which is passion and fight to win a football match, but not becoming too desperate.

"This is where it gets real. This is the title race now, and they've got to somehow clear their minds and get that emotional balance correct."

Not sure this is going to help right now, but Gary Neville, who does know a thing or two about what it takes to get over the line in a Premier League title race, has been dispensing some advice.

He told the Gunners players and coaching staff to "clear their minds and get that emotional balance correct"...

Arsenal fans, we need to hear from you, because the initial 'Get Involved' messages this morning have not been kind...

The Opta supercomputer has been crunching the numbers and has shortened Arsenal's chances of claiming a first Premier League title since 2004 - but they remain heavy favourites.

For a long time, the Gunners' chances were well above 90% - as high as 98%.

But that number has dipped:

• Arsenal's chances of winning the title - 86.98%
• Manchester City's chances of winning the title - 13.02%

The big questions is - how will those percentage chances change after Sunday's battle of the top two at Etihad Stadium?

We have plenty of reaction coming up, but, as ever, we want to hear from you.

Make your views known by answering the title race poll at the top of this page then explain your answer by sending us a message using the 'Get Involved' button:

• Let's keep this simple - after the weekend's results, who do you think will win the Premier League title this season and why?
• Will Manchester City claim a seventh top-flight title under Pep Guardiola?
• Or can Arsenal hang on to claim a first under Mikel Arteta - after three consecutive second-placed finishes?

Welcome to your Monday morning Premier League debrief after another weekend filled with more twists and turns at both the top and bottom (and middle) of the table.

We will begin the day focusing on the title race, where Manchester City cut the gap to leaders Arsenal to just six points.

Pep Guardiola's side enjoyed a comprehensive 3-0 win at floundering Chelsea on Sunday after the Gunners had missed the chance to extend their lead to 12 points with a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth in Saturday's early kick-off.

City have a game in hand of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and entertain the league leaders at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal stutter...

...and Manchester City pounce.