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With only 8 games to go in the league campaign this season, Manchester City has all but secured the title after a sensational season. Guardiola's men have the chance to clinch the league at the Etihad with a win over rivals and neighbours Manchester United in two weeks time.
The race for the top four is also quite interesting with United, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea still battling it out for a Champions League spot. Arsenal sits in sixth, 13 points off rivals Spurs in fourth and 8 points off Chelsea in fifth. Arsenal, however, does have a route back into the Champions League provided they win the Europa League and are currently in the quarter-finals, drawn against CSKA Moscow.
With the top six still in contention to make Europe's elite competition, we take a look at the club's longest-serving players and experienced heads who will be vital in their respective club's end of season run-ins.
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#6 Aaron Ramsey - Arsenal
Welsh and Arenal midfielder, Aaron Ramsey is the club's longest-serving player, having played at the North London club for 9 years and 7 months. Ramsey only just celebrated his 27th birthday in December 2017, but his 10-year anniversary of signing for Arsenal is on the horizon.
In his footballing prime, Ramsey has been struggling this season with a niggling injury that has kept him out of the side for crucial games this campaign. The Welshman left Cardiff City to join the Gunners in the summer of 2008, with his competitive debut coming in the Champions League qualifier with Twente in August.
Ramsey has been a pivotal player for the manager and the club and has now amassed over 300 appearances for Arsenal. The midfielder has scored over 50 goals in all competitions and lifted three FA Cups in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Having scored the winner in two out of the three cup finals, Ramsey is an important asset to the squad and has a contract until June 2019.
#5 Thibaut Courtois - Chelsea
Despite Courtois spending three seasons on loan to Atletico Madrid before making his debut with Chelsea, the Belgian player signed for the English club back in 2011. The 25-year-old Belgian shot-stopper is the club's longest-serving player on paper at 6 years and 6 months, despite the keeper making his Chelsea debut only in 2014.
The Belgian number one has impressed at Chelsea and learned a lot from his three-year loan spell at Atletico Madrid, making him one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Only 25-years-old, Courtois has a long career ahead of him, although, the player might opt for a move away from the English club, once his current contract terminates in June 2019.
Courtois has won two PL titles and a League Cup at Chelsea, while he has won the Spanish League, Copa del Ray, Super Cup and the Europa League during his time in Spain with Atletico Madrid. An imposing figure between the sticks, Courtois is still growing into the complete player and will be around for a long time to come.
#4 Danny Rose - Tottenham Hotspur
Danny Rose began his career at Leeds but didn’t make a single first-team appearance for the then-struggling Yorkshire outfit before joining Spurs at the tender age of 17 in 2007. On his Premier League debut for Spurs under Harry Redknapp, Rose struck a sweetly timed volley from 30-yards out to score against rivals and neighbours Arsenal, becoming an instant fan favourite.
Although it was only after loan spells at Watford, Peterborough, Bristol City and Sunderland, Rose became a regular at White Hart Lane in 2013/14 under Sherwood and then Pochettino. When fit, Rose is currently England's best left-back.
It's been 10 years and 6 months since Rose signed for Spurs and an injury struck campaign this season has pushed the player a few steps behind. However, the Englishman should make the World Cup squad and will be a vital part of the national team setup.
#3 Jordan Henderson - Liverpool
Jordan Henderson began his career with Sunderland in 2008 and made an instant impact in the Premier League and continued his development for three seasons before he was picked up by Liverpool in 2011. While it took the Englishman some time to adapt to Anfield, he slowly began cementing his place in the team under Brendan Rodgers.
The 2013/14 season saw Henderson establish himself as a starter, playing 37 league games, as Liverpool mounted a serious title charge only to finish second. The English international took over the club captaincy in 2015 from club legend Steven Gerrard and has made 262 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, during his 6 years and 7 months at the club.
Gareth Southgate named the 27-year-old, Henderson, English captain for the friendly against Holland. A consistent, hard-working, professional Liverpool's captain puts in shifts of pure grit and determination, week in week out and is a key player for club and country.
#2 Michael Carrick - Manchester United
Michael Carrick began his career with West Ham United in 1999 and made over 150 appearances for the club before signing with Spurs in 2004. In 2006, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson poached Michael Carrick from Spurs to replace his former captain and club legend Roy Keane. Carrick quickly adapted to life at United and made his mark, playing 33 games as the Red Devils won the Premier League in his debut season.
During his time with the United, Carrick has been involved in four more Premier League title triumphs, as well as, the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup and three League Cups medals. The 36-year-old club captain is set to retire at the end of the season and join Jose Mourinho's coaching staff.
The Englishman has been at United for 11 years and 6 months. A highly accomplished footballer, Carrick is highly tipped by many to make the smooth transition into coaching and succeed in management in the future.
#1 Vincent Kompany - Manchester City
The Belgian defender and City captain Vincent Kompany arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2008 just before Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group completed the club's takeover in late August. Kompany has been a mainstay in the heart of the team's defence and guided the club to two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.
However, injury problems have significantly cut short Kompany’s playing time in the last few seasons. The Belgian has made only 34 league appearances since 2015 but has chipped in with important displays and been a fantastic servant to City.
Manchester City's captain has played 321 times for City in his 9 years and 5 months at the club. On route to collecting his third Premier League title this season, he has claimed it would be perfect to win the league in front of the home fans after beating rivals United on April 7. With City in the quarter-final of the Champions League facing Liverpool, the club is a dark horse to win the Champions League.
