Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have it all to do if they are to overhaul leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.Reigning champions City can move back to within five points of the Gunners away to Chelsea on Thursday after Arsenal dropped points in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Newcastle.”We have to reduce the gap by playing good and winning games, but they (Arsenal) get more than 100 points if they keep this average and we will not catch them,” Guardiola told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.”We have to be almost perfect and hope they drop points. Last night they were still excellent.”At the end of 2021, Arsenal were fourth, 15 points behind leaders Man City.At the end of 2022, Arsenal are top, seven points clear of Man City.Trust. The. Process. ™️ pic.twitter.com/MLKyJZo78N— Squawka (@Squawka) December 31, 2022 Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games but Guardiola still expects a difficult encounter at Stamford Bridge.”It’s the Premier League,” the Spaniard said.”They’re all tough. They’re a tough side, well-managed. It doesn’t matter what position you are when you go to Stamford Bridge. It is always difficult.”Aymeric Laporte will be given a fitness test ahead of the journey to London after missing the New Year’s Eve clash with Everton with a back problem but fellow centre-back Ruben Dias is still sidelined with a thigh injury.Guardiola added: “Ruben is out. Ayme we will see in this afternoon’s (Wednesday’s training session).”ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – Matchday 19MondayBrentford – Liverpool 3-1 (2-0)/Konate 19 og, Wissa 42, Mbeumo 84 – Oxlade-Chamberlain 50/TuesdayLeicester – Fulham 0-1 (0-1)/Mitrovic 17/Arsenal – Newcastle 0-0Everton – Brighton 1-4 (0-1)/Gray 90+2 (p) – Mitoma 14, Ferguson 51, March 54, Gross 57/Man.Utd. – Bournemouth 3-0 (1-0)/Casemiro 23, Shaw 49, Rashford 86/Wednesday22.30: (2.10) Southampton (3.50) Nott.Forest (3.80)22.45: (2.65) Leeds (3.25) West Ham (2.70)23.00: (2.05) Aston Villa (3.50) Wolverhampton (3.90)23.00: (3.35) Crystal Palace (3.40) Tottenham (2.30)Thursday23.00: (5.50) Chelsea (3.90) Man.City (1.70)***odds are subject to change© Agence France-Presse
