Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would’ve already started preparations for the game against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners have a Champions League clash against Atalanta to focus on first, but the biggest game on everyone’s mind is the clash on Sunday.
Manchester City could be without Kevin De Bruyne against Arsenal, which is a blow for them, but the Premier League runners-up are guaranteed to miss Martin Odegaard after his ankle injury. That evens things out.
In his press conference after the draw against Inter Milan, Guardiola was asked about Arsenal, and he only had good things to say about Mikel Arteta’s side.
Pep Guardiola makes a prediction about Arsenal
Arsenal have challenged Manchester City for the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons.
The Gunners have gone toe-to-toe with Guardiola’s men and even took the title race to the final day of the 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal are challenging for the title again this time, and Guardiola seems really impressed with the squad Arteta has assembled at the Emirates.
The Spaniard admitted that the North Londoners have been Manchester City’s main challengers for the title in recent years, and he has now predicted that Arsenal will continue to challenge for the Premier League crown for ‘many years’ because of the squad they have.
Guardiola also branded the Gunners as an ‘unbelievable’ team and highlighted a few of Arsenal’s qualities that make them a very hard side to beat.
After the Champions League clash against Inter Milan, Guardiola was asked in his press conference if he thinks Arsenal will play in a similar way to the Italian champions.
The Manchester City boss replied, as relayed on HaytersTV: “I don’t know the idea from Mikel, how he’s going to play, how to read it and adapt it. But, it’s another unbelievable team.
“They defend really well, they don’t concede chances, they don’t concede goals, they are really good in many aspects. They control everything.
“They were the biggest challenge, title contenders, in the last two seasons. They are there and they will be there for many years because they created that type of squad, a young team.
“It’s another good test.”
READ MORE: What Pep Guardiola has already said about Atalanta should strike fear into Arsenal
What Arsenal need to do to beat Manchester City
Arsenal came under a lot of criticism for failing to beat Manchester City at the Etihad last season. Many people felt that a win on that day would’ve guaranteed them the title.
Arteta will surely want to get the win on Sunday, but to do that, his players will have to take their chances.
Arsenal are the most solid team at the back in the country, and if their defenders have a good game, they should be able to stop City’s attack.
That’s what William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and co did last season, but the reason why the game ended in a draw was because the Gunners didn’t convert their chances at the other end of the pitch.
Manchester City will have ‘superior’ ball possession against Arsenal on Sunday, but the Gunners will still get opportunities to score. If they take them, we think they will win the game.
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