Manchester City is trying to improve itself in order to maintain the opportunity to secure a position in the Champions League zone. Although inconsistent, I feel confident that Manchester City will not finish outside the top four. Of course the runner-up position will be the target of Pep Guardiola because it seems to be a bit difficult to catch up with Liverpool. While Arsenal this season has not performed so well compared to last season, even their performance was very weak in several matches. I think the Gunners' target is the same, they just want to maintain their best position as long as they don't get out of the Champions League zone.
Well it's football and Anu they say can happen, personally, I feel Manchester City will be gunning for top 4 finish but I don't think they will end up being runner ups, my best bet for City is, third or fourth considering that Pep needs a Champions League spot for next season. Arsenal have not been doing well but I think they may maintain a second place finish. But, this is football and anything can happen.
Pep Guardiola will certainly try to lead Man City to finish in the top four of the standings, which is why they recruited new players in this winter transfer window. We know that the competition to climb the rankings will never be easy, with performances that are not yet completely consistent, of course Pep Guardiola and his squad need to work harder to reduce the points gap that has been formed. The hope of retaining the trophy and taking Liverpool position is indeed a little impossible, but Man City can hope that they can overtake Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in the future.
The pressure will increase much more when the season is almost over, and as we know Arsenal often run out of energy at that point, it could be that Nottingham Forest will also experience the same thing, so that giving Man City room to climb the rankings. Overall, this scenario is possible, and it is possible that Man City will actually experience a decline in performance again after showing signs of revival.