Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he does not expect his side’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory to have an impact on Arsenal in the Premier League title race. The Sky Blues defeated the Gunners in the final of the EFL Cup at the Emirates Stadium after Nico O’Reilly scored a brace in the second half on Sunday.

The two teams will once again take on each other on 19th April and that contest is going to hold the key in the Premier League race. City are currently nine points behind Arsenal but have an extra game in hand.

The Spanish said Arsenal will be more concerned when they next travel to the Etihad Stadium.

“I would like to be nine points in front to fight for the Premier League,” Guardiola said.

“I don’t think it will have an impact, different competition and they will be more concerned when they come to the Etihad.

“The Premier League is in their hands,” he said. “We have a game in hand and Arsenal at home, and we are going to try to win our games, and we will see what happens.”

The Carabao Cup victory was the 19th title for Guardiola and he shared his delight after going all the way in the tournament.

“Always winning a title is difficult, so it’s a joy and the satisfaction alongside,” he said.

“They suffocated us in the first 15 minutes like they normally do, but after that we started to win a little bit of the second balls.

“We made an incredible victory,” he added. “The Carabao Cup is not the Champions League or the Premier League, everyone knows that, but winning against that team makes the title special.”

Manchester City will next take on Liverpool in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on April 4th at the Etihad Stadium.