Just as Manchester City have found their feet, Arsenal are set to welcome Pep Guardiola’s side to the Emirates.
The Gunners won’t be unnerved by City’s performance against Manchester United, as last season, the Emirates was treated to a blockbuster against Guardiola’s squad.
Arsenal beat Man City 5-1 last term, a match that was fuelled by revenge, with a similar level of intensity needed when the Cityzens visit on matchday five of the 2025/26 campaign.
Before the clash, both sides face tests in the Champions League, which is where Jeff Stelling believes City could run into some trouble.
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Jeff Stelling has a concern for Manchester City ahead of facing Arsenal
On Tuesday night, Arsenal face Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, but City have to wait until Thursday to face Napoli, whom they host at the Etihad.
Previewing the upcoming clash between Mikel Arteta and Guardiola, Stelling admitted that he has concerns about the difference in time the two clubs have to prepare.
“My concern for City in that is that Arsenal play their Champions League game on Tuesday night and City play on Thursday,” Stelling said on talkSPORT.
“48 hours difference between the two games and I would, you know, I would be surprised if that didn’t have some sort of impact.”
As well as playing two days later than Arsenal, City have a huge challenge awaiting them, facing Serie A leaders Napoli in their Champions League opener.
Rotation ahead of Man City’s trip to the Emirates has already been discussed
Playing in the Champions League requires a lot of depth in quality, which is why Arsenal’s squad depth was improved so greatly over the summer.
The level of competing for the Premier League alongside the Champions League is not for the faint-hearted, with City given a taster of what’s to come so early into the season.
Stelling isn’t the only one to be thinking about the tests City face this week, as Shaun Wright-Phillips also raised the point of being cautious with fitness.
“You have to be careful with fitness, we’ve got Arsenal coming up on the Sunday and you have to look into that as well,” Wright-Phillips, via Manchester City’s official website.
“If you can, I would leave the team that started [against United] for as long as they possibly can.”
Guardiola has conquered some of European football’s greatest challenges already, with another huge test awaiting the Spaniard.
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