Arteta urges Arsenal to take next step in Man City clash

Arsenal have to show they are ready to topple Premier League champions Manchester City in tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash between the title favourites, according to Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta.
City have claimed an unprecedented four consecutive English top-flight titles, beating Arsenal into second place in each of the past two seasons.
Arteta’s men took four points from the two league meetings between the sides last season, but have not won at the Etihad Stadium since January 2015.
“We go to the home of the champions. The team that I think in Premier League history has been the most consistent ever, not only in terms of results but in terms of dominance and consistent top performances,” said Arteta at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“This is the challenge, we have to go there and prove that again we’ve made another step and we can compete.”
City have started the season in ominous fashion, winning their opening four Premier League games thanks to a remarkable nine goals from Erling Haaland. But Arsenal have already shown their mettle to remain in the fight with away wins at Aston Villa and Tottenham to sit two points behind the leaders.
City failed to score against Arsenal in the Premier League last season and the Gunners’ title challenge looks set to be built on solid foundations once more. Arsenal have kept four clean sheets in five games and the only goal they have conceded so far this season came when down to 10 men against Brighton.
The scheduling has not been kind to their chances of inflicting City’s first home defeat in 50 games stretching back to December 2022. Arsenal played their opening Champions League match – a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta – 24 hours after City were also held goalless at home by Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Arteta, though, said his side could not offer excuses as they aim to prove they are ready to be champions for the first time in 21 years. “We want to be in the position we’re in, we dreamed of this years ago and we’re in this position right now. Let’s make the most out of it and let’s enjoy it,” he added. “We know what it means, we know what we’re fighting for and it’s a great opportunity for the team to show what we’re capable of.”
Captain Martin Odegaard will again be missing for Arsenal after suffering ankle ligament damage on international duty with Norway.
City coach Pep Guardiola admitted the extra rest has given his side an advantage, but the champions are sweating on Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness for the crucial clash. Guardiola believes the additional 24 hours of recovery could play a role in deciding the first meeting this term between the clubs.
A victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would be a significant boost to City’s hopes of an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title, with Guardiola grateful for a rare piece of help from the fixture schedulers.
“It is an advantage but I am going to make a list in the last six years of how many times we faced a tough team with an extra day of rest. It is a very long list,” he said with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
City’s recovery time advantage might be offset by the potential absence of Belgium midfielder De Bruyne after he limped off during the goalless draw against Inter. Asked if De Bruyne would be fit to face Arsenal, Guardiola said: “He feels a bit better today. Tomorrow we’re training and we’ll see. He could be involved.”
Fuelled by Haaland’s nine goals, City have already established themselves as the team to beat once again this season. The champions, who boast a 100 percent record after four league games, sit two points ahead of Arsenal, who have won three and drawn one.
But Guardiola has a healthy respect for the threat posed by Arsenal after the north Londoners took the title fight down to the final day last season. “The set pieces are not easy because they are taller than us. They defend the space, they are incredible with the runners,” he said. “It is always two against one with Gabriel (Magalhaes) and (William) Saliba focused on Erling. That is why it is difficult to play them. I have to read well the way we have to do it.”
Although they finished above them, City failed to beat Arsenal last term. “It’s always been a tight game in the last few years,” Guardiola said. “They do many good things. They’re a complete team, which is why they’ve been our biggest rivals in the last two seasons. Every season they are better and better. Both years have been close, but we have been so strong and we are still strong.”
City would move five points clear of Arsenal with a first victory over them since April 2023.
But Guardiola insists it is far too early in the season for the result to be regarded as significant no matter who wins. “In this early stage of the season, nothing more than the mood over the next few games will be decided. In terms of the table it’s not really important,” he said.
“It’ll be more important when we go to London in the second half of the season.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s third consecutive away derby win at Tottenham ramped up the scrutiny on Ange Postecoglou. Spurs have taken only four points from their opening four Premier League games of the season and their form has been trending downwards for some time.
After a blistering start under the former Australia manager, Tottenham have won just 13 of their last 32 league games, including seven defeats in the last 11. Postecoglou has insisted he will deliver silverware in his second season in charge but narrowly avoided a League Cup exit to second-tier Coventry in midweek.
With trips to Manchester United and Brighton to come, Spurs need to steady the ship against a Brentford side that troubled City last weekend in a 2-1 defeat.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Saturday: West Ham v Chelsea (1130), Aston Villa v Wolves, Fulham v Newcastle, Leicester v Everton, Liverpool v Bournemouth, Southampton v Ipswich, Tottenham v Brentford (all 1400), Crystal Palace v Man Utd (1630)
Sunday: Brighton v Nottingham Forest (1300), Man City v Arsenal (1530)