Guardiola urges City to ‘improve’ after Hammers romp, Arteta tells Arsenal to ‘learn’ while winning

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City will have to improve if they want to win the Premier League title despite Erling Haaland’s latest masterclass in a 3-0 victory against West Ham on Saturday.

Haaland scored twice and also set up Tijjani Reijnders’ goal as City’s pre-Christmas stroll at the Etihad Stadium kept the pressure on Arsenal in a gripping title race.

But although City’s fifth successive league victory took them to the top of the Premier League before Arsenal’s visit to Everton later on Saturday, Guardiola is not convinced by his team’s performances.

“I’m happy, I cannot deny that, we are fourth in the Champions League and in the semi-finals of the League Cup, but the way we played with the ball we have to improve,” he said.

“Otherwise, it will not be enough to arrive in March and April to be contenders to win titles.

“I want to be honest. I said to the players, ‘Merry Christmas everyone but it will not be enough if we don’t improve’.”

Guardiola has led City to six Premier League titles during his illustrious reign, amassing a wealth of knowledge about how to succeed in the gruelling English top-flight.

Concerned by City’s lack of cutting edge at times against West Ham, Guardiola demanded they show a more ruthless touch when dominating games.

“In the first half we controlled the game but even with that we were not in the right places to create and we talked about that. We had to create more chances to be solid,” he said.

“In the second half when they made a step up we continued to play not good. We did not do the right process to do what we have to do.

“If they had scored to make it 2-1, West Ham would have made it 2-2.”

Reflecting on the positive aspects of the victory, Guardiola praised Haaland for a typically clinical brace, as well as the dynamic displays from Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly.

The prolific Norwegian has now scored 38 goals for club and country this season.

“There were many good things. Offensively, Erling. I always have to thank Erling for the goals but today thanks to him and Phil and Nico they helped us to do this type of game,” he said.

“Defensively we are improving. We are visualising it with the ball.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side have to learn to kill games off while they are winning after reclaiming top spot in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Everton.

Viktor Gyokeres scored the only goal from the penalty spot to register his first goal since November 1 as the Gunners moved two points clear of Manchester City.

But after needing a stoppage-time own goal to beat bottom-of-the-table Wolves last weekend, Arteta was again made to sweat for the 96 minutes on Merseyside against a depleted Everton.

The Toffees rarely threatened, but had strong appeals for a penalty themselves turned down in the second half when William Saliba caught Thierno Barry.

“The margin should have been bigger,” said Arteta. “We have to learn while we are winning.”

It is the third time in four years that Arteta’s men will top the table on Christmas Day.

However, on the previous two occasions they were reeled in by a rampant City.

Pep Guardiola’s men have won seven consecutive games in all competitions to whittle down what was a seven-point gap at the top.

Arteta, though, praised the consistency of his players to continue pushing for a first league title in 22 years.

“It gives me belief and confidence the performances and consistency of the team,” Arteta told AFP. “That is very difficult to do in this league and that means the team is constantly there.”

Everton missed the goalscoring threat of the injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye, who has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.

David Moyes again bemoaned his lack of a striker as they failed to score despite a spirited display.

“You can play a well as you like and do good things but we need to get some goals,” said Moyes.

“We’ve not had goals in the last two games, which is the bit that’s been missing really.

“We done a lot of things, the players effort, the spirit. Everything you’d want them to do they did tonight. It was just a bit of quality or trying to hurt Arsenal a bit more.”

Agencies