City's chance to top EPL with Hammers win

LONDON - Manchester City have the chance to climb above Arsenal and seize the English Premier League lead on Dec 20 with a home clash against struggling West Ham United, before Mikel Arteta's injury-hit side head to Everton later in the day.

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Pep Guardiola's side sit two points behind Arsenal and will move provisionally top with a win over West Ham.

City are in imperious form, with one loss at the Etihad Stadium in their last 11 matches and riding a six-game winning streak in all competitions.

Guardiola, however, insisted that his team “can do better” when he spoke on Dec 19 to preview the match.

“We had results, but there are a lot of things we have to do better,” he said.

“Still, we are not in the position in the way we play that we should be. But it helps the fact that the mentality and commitment is incredible that helps us to be there.”

Despite injuries to key players like Rodri and John Stones, and missing Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri to international duty, their depth and attacking firepower make them heavy favourites against a West Ham side stuck in the relegation zone and winless in five.