Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says Arsenal will be long-term Premier League title contenders before the two sides meet in the top flight on Sunday.
Arsenal, who finished second behind City last year, are unbeaten in the league this season.
Guardiola’s side lost to Wolves last weekend but start the weekend one point ahead of the Gunners.
“They were the biggest rival last season and will stay there for a long time,” Guardiola said.
Asked if Arsenal will be title rivals this season, he added: “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.
“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 have lost their past 12 league matches against City and are without a top-flight win in the fixture since 2015.
However, they beat Guardiola’s side in the Community Shield on penalties before the season began, and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is confident his side can match that result at Emirates Stadium.
“My only worry is the quality of the opponent and on Sunday we have to be at our best for 100 minutes,” Arteta said.
“That’s what we can control and we need to focus.
“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.”
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is a major doubt after limping off during the Champions League defeat by Lens.
Gabriel Martinelli is expected to miss a sixth successive game because of a hamstring issue.
City are without midfielder Rodri who will serve the final game of a three-match ban.
Bernardo Silva is available after returning to the squad in midweek, while John Stones and Kevin de Bruyne have both been ruled out.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Arsenal have lost 15 of the past 16 meetings, including 12 consecutive Premier League defeats
- The Gunners’ last two wins over City have come in FA Cup semi-finals: 2-0 in 2020 and 2-1 in 2017
- Arsenal have gone 16 top-flight games against Manchester City without keeping a clean sheet
- City are the only side that Mikel Arteta has failed to beat during his managerial career in the Premier League – he has lost all seven meetings against his former club.
Arsenal
- Arsenal are unbeaten in the Premier League, winning five and drawing two of their seven matches
- However, the Gunners suffered their first loss of the season in midweek, going down 2-1 to Lens in the Champions League
- The north Londoners have won 19 of their past 26 Premier League home games, drawing five and losing to Manchester City and Brighton
- Mikel Arteta’s side have kept just four clean sheets in their past 28 home league fixtures, with 63% of the goals they have conceded since the start of last season coming at Emirates Stadium
- The Gunners have dropped points in five of their eight Premier League home games without Bukayo Saka, winning three, drawing three and losing two
- Saka has contributed five goals and two assists in his past eight Premier League appearances.
Manchester City
- Manchester City could lose back-to-back Premier League fixtures for the first time since December 2018, when they were beaten by Crystal Palace and Leicester
- City have lost one third of their 15 league matches without Rodri since his debut in August 2019, compared to just 13% of the 144 games he has featured in
- Erling Haaland scored in both of the top-flight clashes with Arsenal last season, with each goal coming after the 80th minute
- Haaland has scored in his previous four Premier League outings in London, a run which started with a goal in City’s 3-1 win at Arsenal in February
- Goalkeeper Ederson is set to make his 300th City appearance on Sunday.
