Pep Guardiola makes Arsenal and Mikel Arteta feelings clear before huge Man City clash

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has heaped huge praise on Arsenal and Mikel Arteta before their Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Prior to Liverpool's surprising Premier League triumph last season, the two teams had been involved in two consecutive title races, with City coming out on top on each occasion. However, Arteta has been able to get the best of his mentor in head-to-head clashes in recent years, with the Gunners unbeaten in their last five outings against City.

Etihad Stadium has hosted two back-to-back draws, while Arsenal have beaten their rivals 1-0 and 5-1 in the last two seasons on their own patch. The latter triumph came just seven months ago, and Guardiola revealed what he believes went wrong in that game.

He has also been very complimentary of Arsenal's work in the transfer window and Arteta and his coaching staff's job.

"The last 15-20 minutes were a disaster," he began when referencing the 5-1 defeat last season. "We forgot to do what we have to do. After that, it was easy for Arsenal.

"Hopefully, it is an unbelievable squad, and this season we can make more of a challenge because Mikel is an extraordinary manager.

"They increase the squad in four or five transfer windows, it is an unbelievable squad and unbelievable team. It is one of the toughest opponents you can find right now in Europe.

"Step by step, window by window, Arsenal is getting better. Last season in Europe, they made an incredible step forward. For me, it is the most solid team; they don't make mistakes, it's an incredibly solid team.

"They have pace up front. They have set pieces with Nico [Jover], who was here, in every department we know. I know the quality they have.

"We'll see what we have to do and how players are fit, are expected to play a role in deciding the winner, with Arsenal in a good place for one of those, and we try to complete and be a better team than last season, especially in the last 20, 25 minutes."

Form and player availability is expected to play a role in deciding the winner with Arsenal in a good place for one of those but perhaps not the other. Arteta has seen his side concede just once this season and thus win four of their five games with 11 goals scored.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, being injury doubts for the weekend, could impact their productivity in front of goal.

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