Pep Guardiola has fired a message to Premier League runners-up Arsenal after their defeat at Nottingham Forest handed Manchester City the title. Speaking ahead of City’s clash against Chelsea, Guardiola was full of praise for Arsenal, managed by his former assistant Mikel Arteta. ‘Every Premier League [trophy] is special,’ Guardiola said on Sunday. ‘When you win three in a row it means consistency, especially against Liverpool and especially this year against an incredible, incredible Arsenal. I give credit for the quality of our opponents. In the past it was Liverpool and now it is Arsenal. Both teams bring us to our limits.’ Guardiola has previously suggested that Arsenal should be delighted with finishing second in the Premier League. ‘Ask the owners from Arsenal what it means after six, seven years being out of the Champions League [to now be back],’ he said last month. ‘Next season Arsenal will be playing the elite, the best teams in Europe in an incredible competition. [This season] is a success, absolutely.’
