Man City star explains ‘big difference’ in Premier League title race amid honest Arsenal admission

Arsenal are top of the Premier League, with Manchester City two points behind the Gunners as we head into Christmas

Tijjani Reijnders believes Manchester City must keep putting pressure on Arsenal with the Premier League title race heating up.

City maintained their pursuit of the Gunners at the top of the Premier League – and even moved above them for a few hours – with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of West Ham on Saturday. Arsenal, though, responded with a win of their own, with Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty the difference against Everton.

Pep Guardiola’s side have now won five games in a row and are showing some form. Midfielder Reijnders, who grabbed City’s second goal in the 3-0 win over West Ham, hopes the momentum can continue.

The Dutchman said: “If you compare us at the beginning of the season and now, it’s a big difference already. That’s a good thing, how we grow as a team.

“We have to keep doing that, to be consistent with what we’ve been the last couple of months and also growing as a team. It was a good win right before Christmas. Being at the top of the league for a couple of hours puts more pressure on Arsenal.”

Guardiola called for further improvement from his team after the game but they were far too strong for a lacklustre West Ham. Erling Haaland opened the scoring after just five minutes and then set up the second for Reijnders before putting the result beyond doubt as the Hammers tried to mount a fightback in the second half.

Haaland’s double took the prolific Norwegian to 25 for the campaign in all competitions for City but Reijnders feels it is important he and others chip in with goals too.

“It’s a nice feeling to score my first goal at the Etihad now and hopefully more will come,” said the summer signing from AC Milan, whose previous two goals came away at Wolves and Fulham. “It’s important.

“First, Erling helped us a lot with all his goals and now we’re coming there as well. That’s a good thing for our team. Everyone is very eager to score a goal and looking for those kinds of chances.”

Arsenal are two points ahead of Man City after 17 games played. It will be the third time in four years the Gunners go into Christmas top and Mikel Arteta believes his side now have what it takes to go all the way.

He said: “What gives me belief and confidence is the level of performance and the consistency of that. That’s very, very difficult to do in this league. That means that the team is constantly there.

“Enjoy the process of winning. You’re going to have to go to difficult places, you’re going to have difficult moments. We have dealt with a lot of things already, and we are there. What we want to do is work for the next game, try to improve and make sure that everybody is with that spirit and energy and enjoying that.”