'We have to' - Pep Guardiola sends transfer message to Man City board after Arsenal title race

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City must act strongly in the coming years to fend off Arsenal in future title races.

City pipped Arsenal to the Premier League title for the second year in a row, with Arsenal recording the third-highest points total as a second-placed finisher as they reached 89 points. But City were relentless and went unbeaten after defeat at Aston Villa in December, including winning nine league games in a row at the end of the season.

Guardiola was emotional at full-time after sealing his sixth league title in England, but made sure to credit Arsenal for their role in another enticing title race. He then added that City have 'got the message' from the Emirates Stadium so must respond with the 'right decisions' to match Arsenal's young squad.

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"Before was Liverpool to push our limits, now has been Arsenal. I want to congratulate from the deep of my heart Mikel [Arteta] and his staff," Guardiola said. "They have done an incredible season. They push us to our best like happened before, we got the message from Mikel and his players. We got it.

"We have to take the right decisions in the next years because they are there to stay. They are young, you see Declan Rice, [Martin] Odegaard, [William] Saliba, [Kai] Havertz and [Bukayo] Saka and the 'keepers. So young, they have the experience in the Champions League, two years were close. We compete incredible well again, at the end for a little margin we won it, I'm incredibly really pleased."

Speaking to Match of the Day, Guardiola added: "Arsenal push us to