He’s sure to say it’s ‘so, so early” but Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City players defied that hesitance with an opportunity-seizing 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Second-place City are now two points back of Arsenal in early December and have a workable run of Festive Fixtures ahead — as do Arsenal.

MORE — Recap, video highlights | Cherki’s incredible rabona assist

Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Phil Foden scored while Rayan Cherki amazed with some ball wizardry including a rabona assist on Foden’s marker .

City have a huge Champions League trip to old nemesis (for Guardiola, a very old nemesis) Real Madrid at midwweek and they look good heading into that tie.

Pep Guardiola reacts to win over Sunderland as Man City within 2 points of Arsena

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