Guardiola commented on the importance of the match, saying that it's still early in the season to be discussing the title race. He referenced a quote from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who said that teams should focus on being close to the top four by Boxing Day and then reassess their chances.

Guardiola emphasized the importance of his team's progress, stating that he wants to see them take a step forward every day. He noted that the team has been in similar positions before, and that they can still win the league despite being behind Liverpool and Arsenal in December and January last season.

Guardiola also discussed the recovery of midfielder Rodri, who is still recovering from a torn ACL. He said that Rodri's progress will be assessed daily, but that he is likely to be ready for games soon. Guardiola praised Rodri's work ethic and noted that the team feels more comfortable with him on the pitch.

Guardiola also reflected on last season's 5-1 loss to Arsenal, which he described as a "disaster" in the last 15-20 minutes. He praised Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta and the team's squad, saying that they are one of the toughest opponents in Europe.

Guardiola jokingly suggested that if Arsenal wins the title, it will be due to their spending rather than their quality. He made a similar comment about Liverpool, saying that their success can be attributed to their spending as well.

Guardiola wants his team to compete with Arsenal and be a better team than they were last season, particularly in the last 20-25 minutes of games.