Sport nationMikel Arteta makes Pep Guardiola admission ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking about the challenge of facing Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spotted how Pep Guardiola is ‘adapting’ his Manchester City side ahead of their clash on Sunday.
City are a point ahead of the Gunners in the table, having won their first six league games before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend. Arsenal challenged Guardiola’s side for the majority of last season but stumbled in the latter stages to allow City to win their third consecutive league title.
While City have almost become accustomed to lifting the trophy, Arsenal have not won the league since their ‘Invincibles’ season. However, Arteta has admitted that the Gunners can be encouraged by their Community Shield victory in August as they prepare to host City this weekend.
“That was an important one for us. Winning a title against City is something you always have to value, the way we did it as well,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. “It gives us confidence and belief that we can beat them.
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“It was a while ago, after pre-season. We had some players available, some not. We are much further into the season so I think it will be a different game.”
Despite losing in the Champions League in midweek, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league and are enjoying their best start to a season since 2007. While his team are aiming to set records, Arteta’s side are also tasked with ending their hoodoo against City, with the Gunners’ last league win coming in 2015, though the manager was keen to take pressure off his players.
“We are not looking that far, that’s for sure,” Arteta continued. “They were not players participating in those games, but one thing for certain is we’re going to have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes. Then we have a chance.”
Asked if a win could possibly define Arsenal’s season, he replied: “No, it would be a big boost of energy and confidence but apart from that and the three points nothing else.”
Arteta was previously part of Guardiola’s coaching staff and is well aware that the City boss is capable of producing unique tactical tweaks for high-profile games. The Spanish coach pointed to City’s recent increase in longer passes as the perfect example.
“They’ve done that against Brighton that is also aggressive or against Liverpool. It’s adapting to the behaviour of the team,” he added. “You know what you’re going to provoke when you have certain ideas of getting players up the pitch, you know?
“They have different qualities that they are aware of with [Erling] Haaland as well and they have different qualities because they have Ederson and not another goalkeeper. We know that.
“[Guardiola] does that in big moments and in big games. He’s done it this season against different opponents, different things. That’s a big quality of them because they can change it. Not only before the game. They can do it during the game, they can do it at half-time, that’s the strength of a team that can dominate these things.”
Mikel Arteta makes Pep Guardiola admission ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking about the challenge of facing Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spotted how Pep Guardiola is ‘adapting’ his Manchester City side ahead of their clash on Sunday.
City are a point ahead of the Gunners in the table, having won their first six league games before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend. Arsenal challenged Guardiola’s side for the majority of last season but stumbled in the latter stages to allow City to win their third consecutive league title.
While City have almost become accustomed to lifting the trophy, Arsenal have not won the league since their ‘Invincibles’ season. However, Arteta has admitted that the Gunners can be encouraged by their Community Shield victory in August as they prepare to host City this weekend.
“That was an important one for us. Winning a title against City is something you always have to value, the way we did it as well,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. “It gives us confidence and belief that we can beat them.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola has a wildcard Rodri replacement to consider ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
READ MORE: Man City to step up talks with Erling Haaland over new contract
“It was a while ago, after pre-season. We had some players available, some not. We are much further into the season so I think it will be a different game.”
Despite losing in the Champions League in midweek, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league and are enjoying their best start to a season since 2007. While his team are aiming to set records, Arteta’s side are also tasked with ending their hoodoo against City, with the Gunners’ last league win coming in 2015, though the manager was keen to take pressure off his players.
“We are not looking that far, that’s for sure,” Arteta continued. “They were not players participating in those games, but one thing for certain is we’re going to have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes. Then we have a chance.”
Asked if a win could possibly define Arsenal’s season, he replied: “No, it would be a big boost of energy and confidence but apart from that and the three points nothing else.”
Arteta was previously part of Guardiola’s coaching staff and is well aware that the City boss is capable of producing unique tactical tweaks for high-profile games. The Spanish coach pointed to City’s recent increase in longer passes as the perfect example.
“They’ve done that against Brighton that is also aggressive or against Liverpool. It’s adapting to the behaviour of the team,” he added. “You know what you’re going to provoke when you have certain ideas of getting players up the pitch, you know?
“They have different qualities that they are aware of with [Erling] Haaland as well and they have different qualities because they have Ederson and not another goalkeeper. We know that.
“[Guardiola] does that in big moments and in big games. He’s done it this season against different opponents, different things. That’s a big quality of them because they can change it. Not only before the game. They can do it during the game, they can do it at half-time, that’s the strength of a team that can dominate these things.”
Sport nation
Amina Umar