The carrot was dangled in front of Manchester City – how would they react to Arsenal's shock loss on Saturday?

That question was emphatically answered by Pep Guardiola's men on Sunday – with a statement 3-0 win at Chelsea which blew the Premier League title race wide open.

While Arsenal are faltering, City are growing in strength and, after moving within six points of the leaders with a game in hand, the signs are looking ominous for the red side of north London.

City's cheers would have been heard all the way from west London - and the ferocity with which Guardiola, his players and the travelling fans celebrated showed how important a victory this was.

Arsenal have a Champions League tie to contend with on Wednesday, but City's attention will now fully turn to next Sunday's meeting against Mikel Arteta's side with the tantalising prospect of further reducing the deficit.

City have hit form in the past three games, scoring nine goals against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea without conceding, claiming the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals during that period.

"We have done a good three games, but the best team in England is Arsenal and the best team in Europe is Arsenal," said Guardiola.

"The numbers are there with the consistency they had. We will prepare well this week.

"We will adjust from the Carabao Cup final and what we have to do with our people to perform well. What defines the teams is how you play."

"Are you watching Arsenal?" was the chant echoing around Stamford Bridge from the City supporters.

If they were, it was from behind their sofas and between their fingers knowing City's juggernaut is starting to purr into gear as they swept aside hapless Chelsea in the second half.

The statistics show April is Guardiola's most fruitful month and Arteta's worst - and the results from the two title rivals this weekend backed that up.

City have been the hunters before and are comfortable in that role - as Arsenal only know too well.

In 2022-23, the Gunners became the team to spend the most days (248) top of the Premier League without winning it.

They were five points clear after 32 games played that season, but City, with two games in hand, reeled them in.

How damaging Arsenal's home loss against the Cherries proves to be remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain - City have taken advantage of that slip-up in style and extended their unbeaten run in the league to nine games.

They have also lost only one of their past 19 top-flight matches, showing they are once again starting to peak at the right time.

"Manchester City are smelling blood," former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports. "They are heading into a free week to prepare for a monstrous clash next weekend."

Ex-City defender Micah Richards added: "Ultimately, you've just got to do it. I preferred chasing. As the underdog, I preferred to chase. Arsenal could have gone 12 points clear yesterday, now it is six points.

"The fans believe and they have not stopped believing... I'm not saying they are going to go and win it but they have given themselves a chance and that's all they can do."

One thing which is arguably in Arsenal's favour is the run-in.

While next Sunday's match remains the standout fixture, the Gunners' remaining five games are against teams in the bottom half of the table.

City, meanwhile, have to face Europe-chasing Everton and Brentford, as well as rounding off the campaign at home to Champions League contenders Aston Villa.

Does everything for Manchester City, then, really rest on next weekend?

"If they beat us it's over, if we draw also," said Guardiola.

If City are able to win and further close the gap between the sides, they could actually be top of the table by the time Arsenal next play at Emirates Stadium.

City travel to Burnley for their game in hand on Wednesday, 22 April. Another victory in that match would send them to the summit with five to play.

New mixing with old - a team starting to gel

Guardiola freshened up the squad last summer by off-loading experienced stars including Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Ederson.

In came the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rayan Cherki, while Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were added in January – all those players are aged 26 or under and started in Sunday's victory.

This makes it a relatively young City squad but one that is showing they are up to the challenge and on course for a domestic treble, having already claimed the Carabao Cup.

Captain Bernardo Silva has been alongside Guardiola every step of the way and leads the side unselfishly, while midfielder Rodri is starting to show the kind of form that won him the 2024 Ballon d'Or, having been sidelined by injury for large periods.

Erling Haaland remains the division's top scorer with 22 goals, but it has been a lop-sided campaign for the striker.

The Norwegian netted 19 times in his opening 17 games, but has managed only three in 13 since, proving City are not over-reliant on the 25-year-old taking on the goalscoring burden.

City's Champions League exit means they have a week off before facing Arsenal, who have to deal with the distraction of their quarter-final second leg against Sporting.

Guardiola, though, said he would "love to be" in his rivals' position and still be competing in Europe.

The Spaniard added: "[Did] one person in this room bet for us in the Carabao Cup final? £1? Not even one bet for us.

"We were underdogs and that was perfect. Now it's different and that is a mindset we have to work [with]. The Champions League is not about just about how you play, you have to defend really well.

"The Premier League is another business, it is how you grow as a team and how you play good. If you are winning, winning, winning and not playing good, you are not going to win.

"You cannot hide behind the results. Results helps for the mood, for the confidence and it is an important medicine but you have to reflect what you can do better.

"In the last month, the team grew up a lot."

Another victory next weekend would underline how much City have grown – and further strengthen their title credentials. (BBC)

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