‘I’ve heard from Arsenal’: West Ham man says Gunners rattled by Man City after insider conversation

West Ham United striker Michail Antonio claimed to have inside knowledge that Manchester City had finally rattled the Arsenal players and staff as the Premier League title race hots up.

The Hammers man, who featured in the 2-2 draw against the Gunners at The London Stadium on Sunday, spoke on the BBC Sounds' Footballer's Football Podcast with Newcastle United forward Callum Wilson.

Halfway through this week's episode, the two turned their analysis to Arsenal and the title race to decide who was now favourites to take the title at the end of the season.

Antonio said: "I've heard this from someone who works at Arsenal. All season, they've been concentrating on themselves, playing how they play.

"Last week, when they drew with Liverpool and City got a bit closer, it was the first time all season that this person heard players start talking about City and how well City have been playing. They are definitely feeling the pressure from City chasing them."

The revelation came after Antonio praised Mikel Arteta and his side for the way they had played this season and how the boss had implemented what he learned while working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The Hammers man said: "Basically, what Arteta has done, he's been at City, watched everything Pep has done, moved away to Arsenal and just copied and pasted. Boom.

"I'm not caning Arteta, he's a G for doing it. The skills to do what you're doing, study it and then pull it off even though the guy who has mastered it is here. And you're basically beating him at doing his own thing! It's unbelievable!"