Pep: Gunners can hit 100-point mark

PEP GUARDIOLA claims Arsenal aren’t facing the same pressure to win the title as Manchester City — and that the Gunners could break the 100-point barrier.

City go to Chelsea tonight aiming to win their game in hand on Arsenal and reduce an eight-point gap at the top of the table. Guardiola dismissed assumptions that Mikel Arteta’s side will falter in their pursuit of the club’s first title since 2004, and believes it’s unfair that only City are expected to blow away their rivals before Christmas.

‘The advantage of Arsenal and Manchester United is nobody has to win the league by being 20 points ahead in November like City has to,’ said Guardiola. ‘Their history is bigger than Man City... I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but when you play them the smell of the history of Arsenal has to be there. ‘With this Arsenal winning all their games and you are eight points behind, it can happen. But I see how we played the last games and the feeling is good.’ City are the only top-flight club to reach a century of points — under Guardiola in 2018 — but he believes Arsenal can do the same under his old assistant.

‘They could do more than 100 points if they keep this average, and we will not catch them,’ he added. ‘We have to be almost perfect and hope they drop.’ Meanwhile, Arteta will get to vent his fury over the refereeing of Arsenal’s games in a meeting with new referees boss Howard Webb.

The former ref is visiting all 20 top-flight clubs this month including Arsenal, who were furious at not being awarded two penalties in their draw with Newcastle on Tuesday. The decisions were called ‘scandalous’ by Arteta.

■ CHELSEA v MAN CITY LIVE on Sky Sports and BBC Radio 5 Live. Kick-off: 8pm.