Guardiola makes Chelsea claim after 9-goal thriller against Fulham

Pep Guardiola has admitted he is increasingly impressed by Chelsea as the Premier League title race intensifies, with Arsenal currently leading the pack.

City narrowed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points following a tense 5-4 victory over Fulham on Tuesday night.

The result puts pressure back on Arsenal, who can re-establish their five-point advantage with a win against Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have the opportunity to move within a single point of Manchester City if they secure a victory away at Leeds United.

Enzo Maresca's side is coming off an impressive performance, having held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday despite playing with ten men for most of the match after Moises Caicedo's first-half dismissal.

Guardiola acknowledged that catching Arsenal will be a "difficult" task and now considers Chelsea a credible threat in the title chase.

"Arsenal are so strong and so solid," Guardiola stated after the win against Fulham.

"So I know what we have to do. I know if we drop points it will be so difficult. We have to put in our mindset that it will be difficult, but at the same time the Premier League is so long."

He added, "I promise you I am the oldest manager in the Premier League and have enough experience to make a long, long run to try to fight to win the Premier League.

"It is so long. Chelsea impress me more and more every day with Enzo [Maresca], but it’s long."