Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has cautioned his team about the formidable challenge they face in their upcoming Premier League match against defending champions Manchester City.
Speaking ahead of the clash at the Etihad Stadium on September 22nd, Arteta described City as “the most consistent team in Premier League history,” emphasizing their dominance and consistent top performances.
The 42-year-old acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, stating, “We have to go there and prove that again we’ve made another step and we can compete.” The Gunners will be aiming to build on their impressive start to the season, which has seen them occupy second place in the league.
While Manchester City may be without key midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, Mikel Arteta believes that they have sufficient quality to cope with his absence. “They have the option of Gundogan, Bernardo, Phil Foden, Kovacic,” he said. “They’re all world-class players.”
Arsenal themselves will be missing a few key players, including Martin Ødegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mikel Merino, and Declan Rice (suspended). Despite these absences, Arteta has stressed the importance of adapting to the situation. “We have to adapt, but certainly those kinds of teams don’t rely on one individual which is extremely important for them,” Mikel Arteta added.
Despite losing the Premier League title to City by a narrow margin last season, Arsenal have made a strong start to the current campaign, occupying second place with 10 points from four matches. Meanwhile, Manchester City sit atop the table, showcasing their continued dominance.
The match between Arsenal and Manchester City is expected to be a closely contested affair. The outcome could have major implications for the Premier League title race, with both teams vying for top honours.
By Michael Nabary
