Arteta: We have to be at our best to beat Manchester City

By Peter Ochieng

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta is expecting a tough duel when his side welcome Manchester City for an English Premier League (EPL) match, at the Emirates stadium on Sunday. Arsenal and Manchester City are separated by only one point.

City have managed 18 points from 7 games, while the Gunners have 17 this season.

The Gunners finished second behind City last season, and are unbeaten in the league, alongside Tottenham Hotspur.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Arteta said his concern is the kind of quality his players will meet at the Emirates stadium.

"My only worry is the quality of the opponent and on Sunday we have to be at our best for 100 minutes. That's what we can control and we need to focus,” he said as quoted by BBC.

"In these big games you need big players with talent who make it count. Duels are a big thing in a game which can go one way or another." On his part, Guardiola said just like last season, Arsenal alongside Liverpool remain his team’s major rivals.

"They were the biggest rival last season and will stay there for a long time. Absolutely, along with Liverpool. To analyse contenders, the idea is the first 10 games. We have to wait but big clubs are always contenders. Arsenal is back. When I was a young boy and starting as a manager at Barcelona I know they fought Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United team,” said the Spaniard.

"Then for many years they were not there but now they're back. When you see in the calendar it says you go to the Emirates, you know it's a tougher one."

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka may miss the game over an injury, while defender Gabriel Martinelli is expected to miss a sixth successive match due to a hamstring issue.

On the flipside City will be without midfielder Rodri who will serve the final game of a three-match ban, while John Stones and Kevin de Bruyne have both been ruled out.

Arsenal head into the Sunday match having 15 of the past 16 meetings, including 12 consecutive Premier League defeats. The game kicks off at 6.30pm East African time.