Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal are the best Premier League side so far this season.
City are unbeaten since their Community Shield loss against Liverpool in July, but the Spaniard believes his side can always do more – even record-breaking striker Erling Haaland.
Guardiola has yet to face Mikel Arteta his former assistant this term, despite Arsenal falling to fifth place last year. The Gunners boss has set his team on a flying startAfter seven wins in eight matches, they topped the league.
City’s start to the campaign hasn’t been anything to sniff at, either, given they’re unbeaten, won their Champions League games and have an impressive goal difference of plus-20 in the league – It was mainly due to a Norwegian striker.
But whilst Guardiola recognises that his side are doing well so far and carrying on last season’s success, he’s admitted that the Gunners have outshone them.
Speaking prior to Saturday’s Premier League clash against Southampton – LIVE on talkSPORT 2 – the Spaniard said: “I tell the players offensively and defensively what is going to happen. Our defense must play differently to our attack.
“The secret is that we have top players. I see us quite similar to last season. There is a man at the front who can unlock it.
“Every few years we are a little bit better. We are in a great position in the Champions League. We can’t forget that one team is better than us.” Arsenal have been better than us.”
Guardiola believes his City side this season isn’t far off the team that won the league last term. However, there is a key difference in their set-up – summer signing, Haaland.
The £51million Norwegian striker has been on fire for City, scoring 14 goals in the league – including a record-breaking three consecutive hat-tricks at home – filling the gap left by former goalscorer Sergio Aguero.
Haaland’s other feats include being the first player to score in his first four away Premier League games, as well as contributing to five goals in the Manchester derby – the most of any player in a single match.
Guardiola says that his talisman is not perfect, but he insists.
“The connection with Kevin [De Bruyne]Phil [Foden]Riyad [Mahrez]Jack [Grealish]… Erling when he has the ball, he knows what passes I like,” the boss explained.
“He can improve every part of his game. He can do more. All of us can improve ourselves until the end. Haaland may be able to break this record, but anyone can. He should be able to keep this up.
“Many people were skeptical after the Community Shield. but let’s just look at tomorrow and he needs to focus on that. Then at the end of the season he can look at the goals.”
After his incredible start to life in England, it’s no surprise he’s been likened to Lionel Messi – one of the greatest goalscorers in football history.
But for Guardiola, to compare Haaland to the Argentine maestro at this point isn’t sensible.
And the City’s boss’s love for his former Barcelona talisman shone through in his response.
“Nothing is comparable with Leo Messi,” he said.
“How many new Messi’s have there been? 10 or 15? All of them fail. They all fail to answer the Erling questions, but the men here are able to accept it.
“Kevin [De Bruyne] is an exceptional person and he is happy to have Erling here and it goes for all the players here.”
