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Arsene Wenger tips Arsenal to 'surprise' Man City and take advantage of Guardiola concern
Arsene Wenger has backed his former club Arsenal to exploit a concern of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the title race.
Arsenal's legendary former manager Arsene Wenger still believes his old club will win the Premier League title this season. The Frenchman reckons the Gunners can "surprise" their rivals and exploit their tiredness caused by their cup and European exploits.
Arsenal are four points clear of City at the top of the Premier League table. However, Pep Guardiola's side have a game in hand, which will soon become two as they're not in league action this weekend.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are only fighting on one front and have just seven games remaining this season. City, however, are in the semi-final of both the FA Cup and the Champions League, so could play up to 13 more matches.
The destination of the title could well come down to the clash between the two teams at the Etihad next Wednesday. Guardiola has claimed his players are "exhausted" ahead of the FA Cup semi against Sheffield United on Saturday.
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Wenger noticed City tiring towards the end of their second-leg draw with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. And he reckons Arsenal can exploit that to end their 19-year wait for a title.
Wenger said on beIN SPORTS: "Arsenal still has the fate in their hands. If they win the game, they will win the championship.
"Like Guardiola said tonight, City is very tired. I felt really they finished tired in the last 10-15 minutes, City.
"Maybe Arsenal can take advantage of it because Arsenal plays nothing else, just the championship. They play on Friday night after they've had five days to prepare for this game.
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"So physically they could have an advantage and surprise City. That's what I hope, of course. Let's see, I still think we will win it."
Guardiola may rotate several of his starting XI for Saturday's match against second-tier opposition ahead of the visit of Arsenal. The Spaniard claimed after the draw with Bayern that some players may not recover in time to play at Wembley.
He told BT Sport: "Every time we play FA Cup after this competition we are exhausted, the team are exhausted, so I don’t know how we are going to recover to play against Sheffield [United]. We are playing Saturday, we cannot play on Sunday because of course [Manchester] United have Europa League.
"It’s so demanding and I don’t know how far we will arrive because now it is a tough moment for the game on Saturday."
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