Pep Guardiola hints at overhaul which could help Man City close gap to Arsenal

Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez would be able to play together as twin strikers to help unlock stubborn defences.

The Premier League champions were unable to find a way past Everton last time out as they lost ground in the title race with Pep Guardiola ready to unleash more firepower in attack.

The draw with Everton at the Etihad was followed hours later by an Arsenal win at Brighton. That allowed the Gunners to open up a seven-point lead at the top as their relentless start to the season continues.

Haaland and Alvarez were both on the pitch at the end of City’s clash with Everton on Saturday but, despite a late onslaught, the Toffees held out for a 1-1 draw.

It was the first minutes for Alvarez since his incredible World Cup where he scored four goals on the way to helping Argentina end their 36-year wait for success.

Against sides whose priority is stopping City from scoring, Guardiola has confessed a two-man attack is now something he’s pondered going forward but that he must also consider his side’s creativity.

“In the last minutes [against Everton] we need people with a sense of goal, to go to the box but even with that it’s not easy and that’s why he played,” the City boss said. “He rested a week or 10 days it’s not much after the World Cup final.

“We have two strikers to score goals but to create these chances you have to make the process. And in the process, sometimes you need other types of players to create these chances.

“But of course they can play together, especially against five at the back – that can happen.”

City’s stalemate with the Toffees, who got their point thanks to a fantastic Demarai Gray goal, was certainly an unexpected result. Arsenal have only failed to win two of their 17 games this term and the Catalan knows his side can ill-afford to let points slip.

“Of course the result was not expected but that is football, it is not the first time it happened,” he claimed. “We did everything to win. They played really well. Afterwards they broke a bit the rhythm because the referees were not ready but, in general, we did everything and unfortunately could not win.”

City are yet to play against Arsenal this term. Their fixture earlier this term had to be rearranged meaning the two title protagonists must still meet twice, which could play a major role in where the Premier League trophy ends up come May. Their first clash is scheduled for mid-February before they play again in April.