Premier League champions welcome title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Sunday in a blockbuster clash between the sides that have finished top-two in the two previous seasons.
Pep Guardiola led City to an unprecedented fourth PL crown on the bounce as Arsenal finished behind the winners by an agonisingly close margin.
City have had an extra day to recover before the big-ticket game as they completed their UEFA Champions League opening assignment a day prior at home to that of Arsenal’s trip to Atalanta.
Guardiola opined that the extra day of rest could tip the balance of the game in his side’s favour, but also laced it with a bit of sarcasm stating that he would compile a list of games over the past six years where his team have had the luxury of an additional day to recover.
“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,” the Spaniard said in trademark sarcastic fashion.
City played out a 0-0 draw against Inter but suffered a shock in terms of personnel as Kevin de Bruyne limped off the field during the encounter.
“He feels a bit better today. Tomorrow we’re training and we’ll see. He could be involved,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola hailed Arsenal’s strength in set pieces and opened up on the possible challenges his side would have to overcome in order to pick up a favourable result over the Gunners.
“The set pieces are not easy because they are taller than us. They defend the space, they are incredible with the runners,” the Spaniard 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,” the 53-year-old added.
Arsenal missed out on the title last year but did themselves credit by picking up a win over City at home and pulling off a draw on the road. Guardiola opined that the London-based team have been their biggest competitors in the previous campaigns.
“It’s always been a tight game in the last few years. They do many good things. They’re a complete team, which is why they’ve been our biggest rivals in the last two seasons,” Guardiola added.
“Every season they are better and better. Both years have been close, but we have been so strong and we are still strong,” he continued.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has done a phenomenal task of getting the Gunners up to where they are now since taking over the mantle, after his stint as Guardiola’s assistant at City a couple of years ago.
Guardiola, however, played down questions over the importance of the fixture in terms of the title race stating that the return leg in London during the second half of the season would be the more crucial one in terms of the race to the top of the table.
“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,” Guardiola said.
“It’ll be more important when we go to London in the second half of the season,” he concluded.
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