Pep Guardiola has called on Manchester City fans to play their part when his side take on Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The two Premier League title contenders will go head-to-head in a clash that could well determine who is crowned champions on 28 May.
City currently trail league leaders Arsenal by five points, but have two games in hand on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Should they beat Arsenal on Wednesday then they will be strong favourites to defend their Premier League crown, but defeat would see the Gunners take matters out of City’s hands.
A run of six consecutive league wins for City – coupled with three draws in a row for Arsenal – has allowed Pep Guardiola’s side to close what looked like an insurmountable gap at the top of the table.
Such is the importance of the fixture, Guardiola has insisted that City fans have a key role to play at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.
“Of course, the momentum is key, it doesn’t matter if you play every three or four days if you are winning, winning,” Guardiola said.
“It’s really important the final we have on Wednesday – it is a final – against a team who has been the best team in England so far, they are five points ahead of us. Hopefully all of Manchester that day will be blue and they can come to support us.
“We need incredible noise from the first minute to the last as I know which opponent we are going to play against.
“Even though they draw the last three games, the way they play is difficult to stop. You have to read exactly what you have to do but it’s a massively important game for us.
“If we win it’s a step to getting it completely in our hands. The Premier League is 11 months, working, working. We have this opportunity and we want to take it. Hopefully the whole of the Etihad will be full three hours before.”
