Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will have to do everything they can to eliminate Premier League leaders Arsenal. Reigning champions City can move back to within five points of the Gunners at Chelsea on Thursday after Arsenal dropped points in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Newcastle. “We have to close the gap by playing well and winning games, but if they (Arsenal) keep this average they will get more than 100 points and we won’t catch them,” Guardiola told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“We have to be almost perfect and hope they drop points. They were still great last night.”

Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games but Guardiola is still expecting a tough fight at Stamford Bridge.

“It’s the Premier League,” said the Spaniard. “They’re all tough. They’re a tough side, well managed. It doesn’t matter what position you’re in when you go to Stamford Bridge. It’s always tough.”

Aymeric Laporte Will undergo a fitness test ahead of the trip to London with a back problem missing the New Year’s Eve clash with Everton but fellow centre-back Ruben Dias He is still sidelined with a thigh injury. Guardiola added: “Ruben is out. We’ll see at Ayame this afternoon (in Wednesday’s training session).”

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