nchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he is surprised by his side’s imperious run of form “when everyone is suffering in this world” as they extended their winning run to 18 games with victory at Arsenal.
The Premier League leaders have not dropped a point since 15 December and have taken control of the title race as they sit 10 points clear at the top of the table with 13 games remaining.
Like other teams, they have had to deal with a congested fixture list as well Covid-19 cases within the club as the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Guardiola said: “I’m surprised and impressed and so when everyone is suffering in this world, all the teams in the league are dropping points, we were consistent over the past two months and I did not expect [that].
“People talk and talk about the record and the victories but to do this you have to win these types of games many, many times.
“It is not always about winning by three or four because that is not possible.”
City looked confident right from the outset at Arsenal, taking the lead with just two minutes on the clock as Raheem Sterling somehow managed to outjump Rob Holding to head in Riyad Mahrez’s cross.
The visitors had four shots to Arsenal’s none in the opening quarter of an hour and it looked as if the Gunners were in danger of being on the end of a heavy defeat as Guardiola’s side poured forward at every opportunity.
To Arsenal’s credit, they weathered that early storm and grew into the game as Kieran Tierney tested Ederson with a strong effort from distance, while there were glimpses of a threat on the break through the pace of Bukayo Saka.
City failed to kick on after the break although still looked the most likely to add to their lead as Kevin de Bruyne – making his first start in more than a month – lifted an effort just wide while Ilkay Gundogan saw a shot saved by Bernd Leno before Joao Cancelo clipped a lovely strike inches past the post late on.
In the end, a second goal was not needed as City took the three points to ensure they stay in control at the top of the standings.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are 10th and six points off the top six.
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Pep Guardiola says results like their 1-0 win at Arsenal are sometimes more important
City have been back to their free-scoring best this season and had bagged 18 goals in their six previous Premier League games going into this fixture.
It looked like another high-scoring game was on the cards when they took a very early lead through Sterling, with Guardiola and his former assistant coach Mikel Arteta having barely finished exchanging pleasantries on the touchline when the ball was being picked out of the Arsenal net.
But the additional goals failed to materialise as City were uncharacteristically not at their best in the final third, with Gabriel Jesus launching well over late on after a quick counter, while Gundogan and De Bruyne could arguably have done better with their opportunities.
While it was a narrow win in the end, it was one that never really looked in doubt, with Ederson making just the one save all game.
This was City’s 23rd clean sheet of the season, more than any other team in the top five European leagues or top four divisions in England, while they have not been behind in any of their past 17 Premier League games.
The victory also equalled a club record 11 successive away wins in all competitions. Impressive statistics for City, worrying ones for any side hoping to somehow deny them a third league title in four seasons.
Arsenal had gone into this game having lost in their past seven league meetings with City, so a victory against Guardiola’s in-form side always looked a tall order.
Their dreadful start, when they were completely overpowered by their opponents, suggested this was not just going to be another defeat, but also a hefty one.
While Ederson was never really troubled in the City goal, Arsenal had their moments with Saka once again particularly lively.
The 19-year-old’s pace on the counter meant City could never truly relax and perhaps accounted for why the visitors failed to go on and win by a bigger margin.
Saka was lining up on the left, despite having got more goals and assists on the right this season, so could arguably have provided even more of a threat if he had started this game in that position.
Regardless, while Arteta will be unhappy that his side did not threaten Ederson’s goal more, he can be happy that they did not at least crumble after their poor start.
“When we conceded the first goal it put us in a difficult situation,” Arteta said.
“It was tough. With the formation and the players they use they are really comfortable.
“We got something wrong. We didn’t do it in the first 10 minutes. It’s a cross and Raheem Sterling cannot head a ball there.”
Towards the end of the game, Arsenal used a concussion substitute for the first time in the Premier League when Holding went off after he had collided with Cancelo. He was replaced by David Luiz.
