'If I say something...' - Man City boss Pep Guardiola on Arsenal 'mind games' and defensive strength

Arsenal are back in action in just three days after their 0-0 draw against Atalanta as they prepare to face Premier League champions and title rivals Manchester City.

Arguably the two main title contenders are coming head-to-head this weekend and Pep Guardiola has not shied away from admitting how much of a battle taking on Arsenal is. For the City head coach, life this weekend could be even more challenging as he will most likely be forced to rest star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne due to a groin injury.

Speaking to the press before the two league giants meet, Guardiola was asked whether he believes this is the strongest the Gunners have ever been, to which he replied: “Every season they get stronger. Deeper squad, adding more players of top quality.”

He was then questioned on Arteta’s abilities, to which he responded with: “If I say something, they’ll say I was playing mind games or something. I’ve always had a high opinion of (Mikel Arteta) and his team. I’m not good on playing mind games

“They’ve always been tight games. I think we are a good team but they are good too. They do many many good things in all aspects: high-pressing, defending deep and transitions. It’s an absolute complete team. That’s why they’ve been the biggest rival in the last two seasons.”

While many may have been expecting a goal-scoring bonanza when the two sides clashed last season, fans saw a 1-0 win at the Emirates to the Gunners followed by a 0-0 draw at the Etihad. Guardiola was asked whether he feels this season will see the clash revert back to goal-scoring blockbuster or whether it will remain more similar to last season, to which he said it would be ‘the same’.

“The set pieces are not easy because they are so tall. In the transitions, they are quicker than are offensive transitions and when we send them back they are so strong defensively, they accumulate a lot of players who go back. Gabriel and (William) Saliba they have incredible focus and with Erling all the time. So it’s not just one against one, it’s always two against one; sometimes three against one.”

Of course, while Guardiola rues being without Belgian sensation de Bruyne, Arteta will continue to miss his club captain Martin Odegaard with the Man City head coach sympathising to the Norwegian’s absence: “I’m so sorry for him. I always like to play with the biggest, toughest squad and with the important players. Everybody knows how important, and (what an) exceptional a player he is.”

The Gunners head coach will, however, have an ex-City star in the squad with Raheem Sterling set for his Etihad return after joining the Emirates on loan from Chelsea in a deadline day.

The England winger’s N7 arrival was quite the shock for many football fans in the country, but Guardiola confessed that it was actually quite the surprise for his ex-assistant Arteta too: “It was a surprise to Mikel as well! He said he didn’t expect to sign him. But I wish him all the best, but I prefer he doesn’t perform well here on Sunday!”