What does Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City renewal mean for other key teams in the Premier League

Pep Guardiola has renewed his Manchester City contract for another year, with the option to extend for a further 12 months, meaning he will be the City manager until at least the end of the 2025/26 season.

The contract extension means that Guardiola will have been manager of the Citizens for more than a decade. His existing deal was due to expire at the end of this season, with many thinking he would see out the contract and that would be the end of his time in England.

The news is even more surprising given the uncertain situation that City currently find themselves in with the 115 charges they face. Guardiola however, has always been resolute in saying that he would stand by the club regardless of the outcome, and this extension is seemingly proof of that.

The renewal is of course great news for City fans, but what does it mean for some other key teams in the league?

Arsenal

Arsenal fans, players and Mikel Arteta may be among the least pleased to hear this news. Arteta has been Arsenal manager for five years and has led the Gunners to second in the league twice, falling within inches of lifting the biggest prize in English football. Last season they finished two points behind City and the season before they finished five points off.

They have been making constant progress but at some point trophies have to be delivered, and as yet Arteta has only managed to deliver an FA Cup in his five-year reign. He must have been thinking that if Guardiola left at the end of this campaign, Arsenal would have their best chance at the title next season with only Liverpool to really go up against. This news will no doubt be a blow to anyone of an Arsenal persuasion.

Liverpool

Liverpool are in an interesting phase. Not many would have expected them to be challenging this season given that they were losing a legendary manager in Jurgen Klopp and it seemed they were entering a transitory season. It has been anything but, with the Reds leading the table after 11 games and looking very convincing.

Arne Slot may not be too bothered by the news, as he has very quickly become acclimatised it seems to English football. If Liverpool can go on to win the title or finish within a few points of winning it, it will signal extremely quick progress and he and his players will see no reason why they cannot go again and try to win it next season.

Manchester United

As far away from the title as Manchester United have been in the last decade, they are still worth a mention. They are City’s biggest direct rivals and the rivalry runs deep. Erik ten Hag came to England and claimed ‘all eras come to an end’, referring to the City and Liverpool dominance. He of course didn’t manage to see the end of the City dominance but there’s no doubt incoming manager Ruben Amorim will also be hoping that this era ends.

The 39-year-old has a difficult enough job on his hands in just trying to stabilise the club at first, but he would have had an eye on next season and thought that if United could get the foundations right in the next six months and start playing his way, maybe they could surprise a few people next season.

This renewal will likely push back any plans of United going for the title next season.