Arsenal manager targets an even better result after last season’s goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his title-challenging team need to show they can take the next step by getting a result away against champions Manchester City.
The Gunners drew 0-0 when they visited the champions last season and are now looking for their first win 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,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.
“This is the challenge, we have to go there and prove that again we’ve made another step and we can compete.”
Man City could be without influential midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who is an injury doubt, but Arteta doesn’t feel the Belgian’s absence would overly weaken the title-holders.
“No because they have the option if he doesn’t play of [Ilkay] Gundogan, Bernardo [Silva], Phil Foden, [Mateo] Kovacic,” said Arteta. “They’re all world-class players.
“We have a few missing as well and we have to adapt, but certainly those kinds of teams don’t rely on one individual, which is extremely important for them.”
Praise from Guardiola
Last season’s 0-0 draw was the first time Pep Guardiola had failed to beat Arsenal at home, and the Man City manager expects a similarly difficult contest this time against a team that he feels are even better than last campaign.
“Every season they are stronger. The depth of squad, they add more top-quality players,” Guardiola said.
“Every season they are better and better. You can ask him [Arteta] what they’ve improved particularly. I will be accused of playing mind games if I say!
“Everybody knows they have grown as a team year on year. Previous years have been close, but we are still strong and looking forward to the game.”
Guardiola continued: “I expect the game to be similar [to last season].
“To score goals, you can score from many different aspects. From set-pieces it’s not easy but they are so tall, taller than us.
“In the transitions, their defensive transitions are quicker than our offensive transitions.
“When we are able to set them back, they accumulate a lot of players, the strikers go to holding midfielders.
“They defend space, they have runners inside the channels; [William] Saliba and Gabriel have incredible focus against Erling Haaland. It’s never one-on-one, it’s two or sometimes three.
“That’s why it’s difficult to attack them. In 2024 they haven’t lost away. They’ve only drawn one game, against us. It’s not just one or two games, it’s consistent.”
