Pep Guardiola claims Arsenal have already won their 'most important title' this season

Pep Guardiola appeared to take a dig at Arsenal, claiming that they should be 'happy' to have already secured the 'most important title' of their season.

Arsenal have led the Premier League title race for most of the season, leading one fan to come up with a new plan for deciding the champions.

Despite that, and their 3-1 win over Chelsea taking them back to the summit, it looks likely that they will finish runners-up to Manchester City.

It has led to claims that, should they not become champions, then Mikel Arteta's side would have bottled the league, something disputed by their fans.

Before the win over Chelsea, the Gunners had gone four games without a win, losing leads to Liverpool and West Ham, and coming from behind to Southampton, in back-to-back-to-back draws.

After the trio of points, they were then smashed 4-1 by City, with Guardiola's side utterly dominant from the off against their title rivals.

Whilst it was going on, the north Londoners officially made it into next season's Champions League, thanks to Brighton's loss to Nottingham Forest.

And Guardiola appeared to have a cheeky dig at Arteta's side, by suggesting that making the top four was 'their title' and they should be happy with it.

"It was difficult, because we see how relentless is Arsenal," the former Barcelona boss told Sky Sports of the title battle.

"Arsenal after seven years are already in the Champions League, this is the perspective for Arsenal.

"Maybe the mood they’re in now is a bit down.

"After seven years, they won the most important title in their season, for the club, qualify for the Champions League.

"Because, financially, prestigious, new signings, for many things, it’s the most important title today, by far. And it’s already there.

"They lost the game, they are sad, no. I’m pretty sure they have to be so happy, because they make an incredible achievement."

Guardiola's statements certainly make it sound like he's pretty relaxed about winning the title, a state he didn't appear to be in last weekend.

The former Barcelona boss was accused of faking his 'stress' ahead of his side's visit to Fulham, only for Tim Ream to give away a penalty after 90 seconds.

Erling Haaland put away his 50th goal of the season and, though the Cottagers pulled level, Julian Alvarez scored the winning goal later on to earn all three points.

Next up for them is a game with West Ham on Wednesday night, before facing Sam Allardyce's Leeds United on Saturday, in a 3pm kick off that is being shown on tv!