'Arsenal will destroy us': Guardiola blasts Man City despite comeback win against Spurs

City come from two goals down to beat Tottenham 4-2 and close gap on Premier League leaders to five points

Riyad Mahrez celebrates with teammates after scoring Manchester City's third goal in the 4-2 Premier League victory against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on January 19, 2023. AP

Riyad Mahrez scores City's fourth goal past Tottenham's Hugo Lloris. Reuters

Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring City's fourth goal. PA

Riyad Mahrez celebrates after putting City ahead 3-2. AFP

City's Riyad Mahrez scores their third goal. Reuters

Erling Haaland after levelling the scores at 2-2. Getty

Erling Haaland makes it 2-2 goal with a close-range header. EPA

Erling Haaland after scoring City's second goal. Getty

Tottenham coach Antonio Conte and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola watch the action. AFP

Julian Alvarez scores City's first goal soon after half-time. PA

Emerson Royal celebrates after scoring Tottenham's second goal. AP

Emerson celebrates with teammates after scoring. Getty

City's Erling Haaland reacts after Emerson scores Tottenham's second goal. Getty

Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski celebrates scoring their first goal with Ivan Perisic and Rodrigo Bentancur. Reuters

Dejan Kulusevski celebrates after scoring. AP

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks dejected in the first half. Reuters

Dejan Kulusevski scores Tottenham's first goal past City goalkeeper Ederson. PA

Tottenham's Harry Kane is challenged by Manchester City's Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish. AP

Pep Guardiola said Arsenal will "destroy" his Manchester City side in the Premier League title race if they do not improve on recent performances despite a stirring second half fightback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 on Thursday.

City looked to be heading for a second consecutive defeat as goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal just before half time gave the visitors a two-goal cushion at the Etihad Stadium.

But City clinched the win thanks to a 12-minute goal blitz from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez after the interval with Mahrez sealing a rousing comeback with his second goal in injury time.

The win saw City close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to five points, though the Gunners have a game in hand.

City and Arsenal are still to face each other twice in the league this season, but Guardiola took aim at his players for resting on their laurels after winning four league titles in five seasons.

"We cannot deny how happy we are but we are far away from the team that we were," said Guardiola.

"I want a reaction from all the club, not just the players. We are a happy flowers organisation. I don't want to be, I want to beat Arsenal. If we play that way, Arsenal will destroy us."

Guardiola dropped midfield stalwarts Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva to the bench and paired Argentina World Cup winner Alvarez alongside the prolific Norwegian Haaland in a two-man strike force.

Tottenham have made a habit of having to come from behind after slow starts this season, but the roles were reversed as a third defeat in four league games leaves Antonio Conte's men still five points adrift of the top four.

Spurs' half-time lead owed much to uncharacteristic City mistakes.

Man City v Spurs ratings

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson – 6 The Brazilian was having a good game until his weak pass out to Rodri was intercepted, allowing Spurs to take the lead. He did manage to grab an assist late on, finding Mahrez with a long ball. EPA

Rico Lewis – 7 The 18-year-old had a hard job drifting from fullback into midfield, but he did well and had a deflected shot well saved as City searched for goals. Action Images

John Stones – 6 Made a number of important sliding tackles as well as a key clearance to stop Son breaking away. He helped his side keep their lead with a number of strong blocks. Reuters

Manuel Akanji – 6 The Swiss defender had a shaky start, nearly fumbling the ball straight to Kane, but he improved, driving forward on many occasions. AFP

Nathan Ake – 8 The defender had a really strong game, making several vital sliding challenges to stop Spurs on the attack. He also made a vital header to stop Kane getting the ball at the back post. AP

Rodri – 6 The 26-year-old was left short by a weak Ederson pass and was helpless as Spurs took advantage to open the scoring. Getty

Ilkay Gundogan – 7 The captain impressed in the middle, passing the ball straight through the Spurs midfield. He fired a cross to the back post as his side tried to break Spurs down. AP

Jack Grealish – 7 The winger showed off some skilful passing and was always ready to break away with the ball. His defensive workrate was also key as he made a sliding tackle to stop Son on the attack. AP

Riyhad Mahrez – 9 The Algerian was City’s best performer with his electric dribbling and vision setting up all of his side’s goals. After claiming an assist, he went on to slot away two brilliant goals. EPA

Julian Alvarez – 7 The youngster looked bright as he tried to find space behind the defenders, drawing them away from Haaland. He grabbed a scrappy but well-taken goal just after half time as City started their comeback. AFP

Erling Haaland – 7 The Norwegian kicked into gear as the game went on. After having a shot saved well by Lloris, he went on to claim another goal with an easy header to draw City level. Getty

SUBS: Benardo Silva (Ilkay Gundogan 80”) – N/A The midfielder made sure to make his mark, clearing the ball up the pitch and applying constant pressure on Spurs’ defence. Reuters

Kyle Walker (Rico Lewis 83”) – N/A Replacing the injured Lewis, the defender didn’t have a lot to do as his side launched attack after attack. Getty

Ruben Dias (Erling Haalnd 90”) – N/A Little to do. PA

TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 4 The Frenchman started well but ended badly as he let in four, one at his near post. His poor positioning and desire to come out of goal helped City make their comeback. Reuters

Emerson Royal – 6 Having made several good runs down the wing early on, the Brazilian got his reward as he doubled Tottenham's lead before later being subbed off. Reuters

Cristian Romero – 5 The centre-back was booked early on so had to restrain himself, but made sure not to sit back. He denied Grealish on the break with a good tackle. Reuters

Eric Dier – 5 Made a good block from an Alvarez shot in the box but was sloppy in the latter stages under pressure. AP

Ben Davies – 5 The 29-year-old gave away several fouls and allowed Mahrez to get his shot off in the box as City took the lead. He put in some good crosses but wasn’t at his best. AFP

Ivan Perisic – 4 The Croatian was taken off in the second half after a poor showing in which he was beaten by Mahrez almost every time. Despite a few good attacks, he didn’t play well. Getty

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 5 The midfielder made some good blocks at the back, including one which stopped a certain City goal. However, he didn’t look good under pressure, often kicking the ball out of play. PA

Rodrgio Bentancur – 7 Easily Spurs’ best player, the midfielder showcased some accurate passing and always looked calm in the middle as he helped his side transition from defence to attack. Action Images

Dejan Kulusevksi – 6 The Swedish attacker chased down every ball and looked dangerous on the break. He claimed his goal well after pouncing on a City mistake, and helped to create other chances. AP

Son Heung-min – 6 The attacker didn’t get his usual time on the ball and when he did, he didn’t shine. He had one good chance, a header, which he fired goalward, but Ederson saved well. PA

Harry Kane – 6 The Spurs skipper held up the ball brilliantly as he tried to kickstart several attacks, dropping deep to get possession. He was constantly surrounded in the box, but his persistence led to Tottenham's second. Reuters

SUBS: Ryan Sessengon (Ivan Perisic 68”) – 6 Came on to face Mahrez but couldn't stop him. AP

Yves Bissouma (Rodrigo Bentancur 74”) – 5 Added energy in the middle late on, but also gave away some unnecessary fouls. AP

Clement Lenglet (Ben Davies77”) – 5 It was a poor showing from the defender, with his only key involvement allowing Mahrez to slide past him. Getty

Richarlison (Emerson Royal 77”) – 5 The attacker was saved by VAR, which deemed him to not have blocked a shot with his hand in the box. Reuters

Ederson's wayward pass to Rodri played the Spanish midfielder into trouble and the ball eventually dropped to Kulusevski to slot in his first goal since the opening day of the season.

Moments later Rodri was dispossessed inside his own box again by a Harry Kane tackle and when Ederson parried his shot, Emerson headed in the rebound.

"We gave them the first goal and then the second goal is ridiculous," added Guardiola.

Guardiola stuck to his guns at half time rather than sending on the cavalry from the bench and it paid off as the champions took just 18 minutes to turn the game around.

Alvarez started the fightback as the Argentine kept a cool head amid a goalmouth scramble to find the roof of the net.

Within two minutes the hosts were level as Haaland ended his three-game goal drought by heading in Mahrez's ball across the face of goal.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Getty Images

City who got the decisive fifth goal with questions set to be asked again of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

With Sunday's own goal against Arsenal still fresh in the memory, Spurs captain Lloris was beaten again at his near post, although Mahrez's strike did take a deflection off Ben Davies.

Mahrez then took his tally since the World Cup break to six goals in seven games as he anticipated a slack touch from Clement Lenglet and this time left Lloris with no chance with a dinked finish over the advancing goalkeeper.

"This type of game with more experience you never lose," said Spurs manager Conte. "This is the first time in my career my team conceded so many goals."