Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola knows how important the Premier League trip to West Ham this weekend is with Arsenal seven points clear at the top.

Pep Guardiola knows it is crunch time in the Premier League title race for Manchester City, declaring: “If we drop points, it is over.”

City were beaten 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid on Wednesday night, leaving them a mountain to climb in the return at the Etihad on Tuesday. Before that contest comes a league trip to West Ham on Saturday as the Blues seek to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table.

The Gunners begin the weekend with a seven-point advantage and could stretch that to 10 with a win at home to Everton on Saturday afternoon. City will have an immediate chance to respond against an improving Hammers team who are battling relegation.

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And Guardiola, whose side are unbeaten in the top flight since losing to Manchester United two months ago, knows the importance of three points in the capital.

“The Premier League is the most difficult title, the Premier League I believe is the most difficult one and still we are there knowing that if we drop points, it will be over,” he said.

“It is a pleasure to be here. Last season we could not reach this stage, so it is nice. Like Nottingham Forest before, every team play for something. For relegation, for Europe, for Champions League – for every game, there are no second chances.”