“They inject us with extra energy” – Pep Guardiola and Rodri laud Manchester City fans ahead of Arsenal title decider

Manchester City duo Pep Guardiola and Rodri hailed the crowd’s energy at the Etihad Stadium after a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Following a string of inconsistent results since the New Year, the Premier League champions closed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to three points with a defiant showing at the Etihad Stadium.

Goals from Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez sealed a much-needed three points as City capitalised on Arsenal’s draw at home to Brentford ahead of a meeting between the Premier League’s top two at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The atmosphere was electric in east Manchester for City’s first game since the Premier League charged the club with over 100 breaches of financial fair play related regulations.

Pep Guardiola valiantly defended his club in his press conference ahead of Sunday’s win, admirably committing his future to Manchester City despite the hefty financial charges imposed on the six-time Premier League champions.

The Catalan is again calling on the club’s fanbase to make the difference when City visit Arsenal in a clash that could help define the direction of this season’s exciting title race.

As City returned to winning ways after a disappointing defeat to Tottenham last weekend, Guardiola said: “The people were behind us and that’s why it’s important to take this final opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal.”

Arsenal, who retain a game in hand over City, have failed to win in their last two league outings, losing narrowly to Everton before drawing at home to Brentford.

Manchester City took an early lead through Rodri against Villa, with the Spain international heading into the near post past Emiliano Martinez from Riyad Mahrez’s corner.

Rodri shares his manager’s feelings on the difference Manchester City fans can make from the stands and how they can act as the twelfth man against Arsenal.

“Here at the Etihad (Stadium), we feel if we score in the first minutes then the game is for us, so we are happy with the performance,” the former Atletico Madrid midfielder said.

“I don’t know what happened today (on Sunday) honestly, but we need the crowd every day because I think when they are like this, they inject us with extra energy. We love them, but we need them like this because we really feel them on the pitch.”

City can go top of the league with three points against Mikel Arteta’s well-drilled pack in north London and Rodri knows the Blues will need to be at their best to clinch a result against their title rivals.

The 26-year-old added: “We have the chance to go top (on Wednesday) – (to) go there (Arsenal) and show our personality, the team that we are.

“They (Arsenal) are playing at an incredible level and we have an incredible level too. It is going to be an incredible fight and an incredible battle and we have the chance to be on top of the table so that’s what we have to think.”

A testing run ahead will see City play five times before the end of the month, facing Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, RB Leipzig, Bournemouth and Bristol City in a run of games that is likely to see Guardiola shuffle his pack.