The Gunners manager gave an update on three injured stars and spoke about their chances of playing on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta is first to admit that his track record against Manchester City as Arsenal manager isn’t much to write home about. The Spaniard gained the first of three wins against his former employers in the FA Cup semi-final in July 2020. The next was also at Wembley - his side lifted the Community Shield after beating City on penalties. The first and only time that Arteta’s Gunners have beaten City in the Premier League came a few weeks later, and once again in London. A late strike from Gabriel Martinelli was enough for Arsenal to take all three points at the Emirates back in October but Arteta has never won as the visiting coach at his old home, the Etihad.
He will have the chance to put that right on Sunday when the Premier League leaders travel north to scrap it out with a City side dogged by injury worries (Kyle Walker with a hamstring injury and John Stones are ruled out) and at the same time, make a claim for the title. Arsenal top the table on 64 points, level with Liverpool, and just one point ahead of City.
Averaging an impressive 2.5 goals per game, Arteta’s team are by far the most prolific scorers in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool, City and Newcastle. They also boast the best defensive figures - just 24 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets (compared to Liverpool: 26 goals conceded, nine clean sheets and City: 28 goals conceded, eight clean sheets).
But a win at the Etihad, the stadium which was his home for three and a half years, is still top of the agenda and Arteta feels his team is getting closer. “We had some clashes as well in the FA Cup and the Community Shield. And it’s all great
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