REUTERS

Arsenal’s late win over West Ham United on Sunday to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League table did not put any extra pressure on second-placed Manchester City, Pep Guardiola said.

Guardiola’s side, who are on 74 points and have played a game less, must hope for Arsenal to drop points, as a win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday will still leave them two points behind, with two matches left.

“Same one as two days, three days, four days ago,” Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday, when asked about the pressure on his side.

“What I’ve learned from my career as a manager is, what you cannot control, forget about it. To do better what you have not done better this season. To arrive in better position to fight for the Premier League, that we are still fighting.”

Guardiola said he expected Palace to be a difficult team to beat, despite the 15th-placed side being winless in their last four top-flight games.

“They have a European final,” he said, referring to Palace’s upcoming Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27.

“Maybe struggling a bit in the Premier League with a lot of changes. Manager (Oliver Glasner) is leaving... and maybe they were not consistent, but the quality is there.”

Palace are also set to play Arsenal in the final game of their Premier League campaign, three days before the Conference League final.

City face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, still in the running for a domestic treble after winning the League Cup earlier this season.