Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is hopeful of winning the Premier League title despite table-toppers Arsenal having a six-point lead. After 24 matches, the Gunners have 53 points under their belt, whereas the Cityzens have 47.

The Sky Blues shared the spoils with Tottenham Hotspur after a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London on Sunday. 

“As much as the chance is there the hopes will always be there,” said Guardiola. “It happens. I know that these types of games always in the past, there is a way to win and today it didn’t happen.

“We have difficulties for many things, but the players are coming back and I saw an incredibly good spirit with many things.”

The Spaniard was not happy with a number of refereeing decisions in the last few weeks and expressed his frustration after the match against the Lilywhites.

“If a central defender does it to a striker it’s a penalty,” said Guardiola. “The momentum in the Premier League when you concede a goal, it happens. You cannot control it.

“That will be our lesson and once again that will make us stronger and better, especially for many players in the future.”

Guardiola admitted that his team wasn’t at its best in the second half as Spurs’ Dominic Solanke scored a brace to equalise for the visitors.

“You’re right,” said Guardiola when asked about the trend. “We talked. As a manager, you can change something in the second half. When you play really poor in the first half, you can make some substitutions if something didn’t work.

“They had two or three free kicks [in the first half] but the rest was good. We started the second half really well but it was the goal that changed a little bit.”

Manchester City will next take on Newcastle United in the second-leg semifinal of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.