MY ACCOUNT
Mikel Arteta hopes to see Arsenal rise to the challenge set for them by Manchester City on Wednesday as they aim to reach the Premier League champions’ standard.
Arsenal are three points clear of City at the top of the table heading into their crunch clash at Emirates Stadium.
The match was originally scheduled for October and postponed, meaning this is the first time the top two have faced one another in the league this season, though they did face off in the FA Cup fourth round last month, with City winning 1-0.
City can leapfrog Arsenal with a victory and have a clear advantage in terms of title-winning experience, but manager Arteta sees this as an important hurdle for his players to get over.
“What [City] have done the last six years, they absolutely merit it, they merit it on the pitch, the way they play, the way they have competed, the way they have gone through difficulties,” said Arteta, a former City coach who again refused to discuss their alleged breaches of financial regulations.
“For us, the challenge is to get to that level. We need to use that challenge and that energy. This is what we want to be. This is the level and we are heading towards it.”
Arteta, who spent much of his pre-match news conference instead discussing Saturday’s VAR controversy against Brentford, anticipates motivation being no issue for his side against City.
“There is great energy,” he said. “I sensed it since I arrived from after the Brentford game.
“From the staff and everyone at the club, there was a mixture of anger and desire to play the next game. We need to use that.”
The Arsenal manager expects a similar attitude from the supporters, adding: “We will play with 15 players. They are so into it for every single ball, giving us energy, support.
“Let’s enjoy a beautiful night and a really special day.”
