Pep Guardiola Snubs Arsenal As He Names Best Team In Premier League This Season

Pep Guardiola has snubbed Arsenal and named the ‘best team in the Premier League’ despite the Gunners being the only club above Manchester City.

Arsenal are currently top of the table and are five points clear of Guardiola’s second-placed side with 13 games left to play.

The Gunners, looking to win their first title since 2004 and attempting to return to the top four for the first time since 2016, lost 3-1 at home to City last month.

City boss Guardiola has now named who he thinks are the best team in the Premier League this season – and it is the side who are currently fifth – who have lost just two top-flight games and conceded the least goals, letting in only 15.

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‘The threats, transitions, set pieces – they’re the best team in the league,’ Guardiola said about Newcastle United during his press conference on Friday.

He added: ‘They have not been here a long time [near the top four] and you always think they need time but they have done exceptional recruitment, experienced players, exactly what they need.

‘A manager [Eddie Howe] with huge quality. It’s maybe a surprise but not any more and I think they’ll stay there.

‘They are one of the toughest opponents we have to the end of the season. The mentality, transitions, threats, they are one of the best teams. That’s why they are there.’

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City host Newcastle at the Etihad on Saturday in the early kick-off as they look to put the pressure on Arsenal, who face AFC Bournemouth later in the day.

Newcastle recently lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester United and when quizzed if the Red Devils’ trophy triumph had motivated his side, Guardiola added: ‘No, nothing.’

City have been dominant in that particular competition since Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016, lifting the trophy four times.