Pep Guardiola makes 'scared' admission ahead of Man City vs Arsenal title race clash

When Pep Guardiola begins to feel the nerves kick in at the Etihad on Wednesday night, he will know it is a good sign. This is the biggest game of the Premier League season so far but when Guardiola thinks of the uncertainty that 90 minutes will bring, he will feel his heart rate rising.

Manchester City and Arsenal both have the title in their own hands, but for one that privilege will end on Wednesday night. Arsenal head north five points clear in the title race, but it's City who have two games in hand. Anything but a win for the Gunners will give Guardiola's side the advantage.

If City win then they can go top of the table - for a few days at least - by beating Fulham on Sunday. After a pulsating title race the finish line is in sight and it looks like the Blues are the ones handling the nerves better.

READ MORE: Guardiola disputes Arteta claim ahead of City vs Arsenal

But Guardiola will be jittery ahead of facing his friend and former assistant Mikel Arteta. The Catalan laments a younger generation taught not to feel scared or nervous for "Instagram or TikTok", but happily admits he will be going through those emotions in the hours before kick-off on Wednesday.

"I manage well but it is a good sign, being a little bit nervous," said Guardiola.

"So the people in society, the teenagers, all of them are psychologists for mental health because they don’t accept that being nervous is part of our lives, being anxious is part of our lives, being scared is part of our lives, and nothing happens. We don’t have to be perfect.

"It happened now because I have I would say what we have to do, the uncertainty, things that happen before a game, it happens so when I feel that feeling I know it’s normal. The problem would be if I