Mikel Arteta (L), manager of Arsenal, and Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, give instructions to their players during the FA Cup game at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, January 27, 2023. /CFP
Arsenal and Manchester City, which rank first and second in the Premier League's standings table, will face each other at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Before the game that is likely to decide the title-winner this season kicks off, managers of the two clubs have something to say.
"Obviously the belief is there. When I look at how they trained, how they reacted after that, the mood in the dressing room, how they've been defending each other in every moment," Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday. His club is five points above Man City which have played two fewer games.
Arsenal have slowed down a bit recently in chasing their first Premier League championship in 29 years after swallowing three straight draws with Liverpool, West Ham United and Southampton in the past three games. The Gunners had no problem scoring goals, but they couldn't stop the opponents from doing the same.
Gabriel Martinelli (R) of Arsenal competes in the Premier League game against Southampton at Emirates Stadium in London, England, April 21, 2023. /CFP
"We really want it and we're going to show that again tomorrow night. Then you have to deliver in the right moment, the right performance and it has to be perfection because that's what this last level demands – absolute perfection in every single ball," Arteta added.
The last time the two teams met at Emirates Stadium on February 15, Arsenal lost to Man City 3-1. That was their third and latest loss this season. The club achieved a seven-game winning streak after that.
"We knew from the beginning that City was the team to beat with Liverpool because of what those teams have done in the past few years. They fully deserve that credit and to be at the top. We wanted to close that gap as much as we could and we're toe-to-toe with them," Arteta said. "We knew we had to go to the Etihad, we know that after that we're going to have five more difficult games. We know it is going to be a massive game. Is it going to define the season? The answer is no."
Erling Haaland (R) of Manchester City dribbles in the FA Cup semifinals against Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium in London, England, April 22, 2023. /CFP
Though Man City seem to be in a more favorable position in the Premier League title race this season, their manager Pep Guardiola is convinced that playing Arsenal will be very difficult.
"Always, I had the feeling that it would have been so difficult to play them at this stage, but after three games dropping points it will be much much more difficult now," Guardiola said at a news conference on Tuesday. "I would have preferred it if they had come here with better results than the three last results they didn't win a game. So always it would be difficult, but with these results it will be much more difficult."
Man City have been unbeaten since February 5. And have defeated Arsenal for 11 consecutive times in Premier League competitions while outscoring them 29-4. The last time The Gunners won at the Etihad Stadium was in January 2015.
"It is a good sign, being a little bit nervous. When I feel that feeling I know it's normal. The problem would be if I didn't have that feeling," Guardiola said. "At the same time, after the game, whatever happens, good or bad or whatever you say 'it's just part of the game' and we look to the next one, and I like to live this kind of... adrenaline, I would say would be best to define this, the adrenaline that you have."