Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges the “advantage” his team will have when they face Arsenal on Sunday, given their extra day of rest. However, the champions are concerned about the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of the crucial clash.
City played at home in their Champions League draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Arsenal traveled to Italy for their goalless stalemate against Atalanta on Thursday. Guardiola believes the additional 24 hours of recovery could be crucial in the first meeting this season between the two clubs that have finished first and second for the last two seasons.
City won both of those title races, leaving Arsenal still waiting for their first English crown since 2004. A victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would be a significant boost to City’s hopes of an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title.
However, City’s recovery time advantage might be offset by the potential absence of De Bruyne, who limped off during the draw against Inter. Guardiola said the Belgian midfielder “feels a bit better today” and will be assessed in training on Saturday.
Fueled by Erling Haaland’s nine goals, City have established themselves as the team to beat once again this season. The champions, who boast a 100 percent record after four league games, sit two points ahead of Arsenal, who have won three and drawn one.
Guardiola has a healthy respect for the threat posed by Arsenal, who took the title fight down to the final day last season. “They are a complete team, which is why they’ve been our biggest rivals in the last two seasons,” he said.
Although they finished above them, City failed to beat Arsenal last term, losing 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, drawing 0-0 in Manchester, and suffering a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Community Shield.
“It’s always been a tight game in the last few years,” Guardiola said. “Every season they are better and better. Both years have been close, but we have been so strong and we are still strong.”
City would move five points clear of Arsenal with a first victory over them since April 2023. However, Guardiola insists it is far too early in the season for the result to be regarded as significant.
“In this early stage of the season, nothing more than the mood over the next few games will be decided. In terms of the table, it’s not really important,” he said. “It’ll be more important when we go to London in the second half of the season.”
