Mikel Arteta stated Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City was essential for confidence however admitted the Gunners will want to be “at our best in every department for 100 minutes” if they’re to repeat that success in the Premier League this weekend.
Arsenal beat Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning facet on penalties in August after Leandro Trossard’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Cole Palmer’s opener at Wembley.
However, that end result between the groups has been the exception in latest years. City had overwhelmed Arsenal in eight successive matches heading into the Community Shield, whereas Guardiola’s males are at present on a 12-match successful streak in opposition to the Gunners in the Premier League.
In truth, Arsenal have to return to 2015 for the final time they claimed victory over City in the league, and Arteta is aware of what degree of efficiency his facet must produce on Sunday if they’re to finish that winless run.
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“It was an important one for us (winning in Community Shield),” Arteta stated.
“Having success in opposition to City is one thing you’ve got to worth, the way in which we performed as effectively and it gave us confidence and a carry that we are able to beat them.
“One thing for certain is that we know we will have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes and then we will have a chance.”
An Arsenal victory this weekend would see them transfer two factors away from present leaders City, however Arteta dismissed any suggestion it will be a season-defining end result.
“It will be a big boost energy and confidence-wise but apart from that and the three points, nothing else,” he stated.
Arteta highlighted Guardiola’s strengths as a supervisor and famous his fellow Spaniard’s choice to play Bernardo Silva at left-back in earlier conferences was sudden.
And the Gunners boss, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City between 2016 and 2019, credited his compatriot’s willingness to change techniques in video games.
“Every year we have new tools, new players and different things,” Arteta stated.
“We know one another, we count on issues from one another however it’s down to the gamers.
“I didn’t count on him to play Bernardo at left-back.
“Yes (count on Pep do make massive adjustments in video games) and he does that in massive video games.
“He’s performed it this season as effectively. Against completely different opponents he does various things and that’s a giant high quality of them (City) as a result of they’ll change.
“They can do this during the game, at half-time and that’s a strength, they can dominate.”
Although City have dominated this fixture in latest years, Arteta took encouragement from his facet’s efficiency in the Emirates conflict between the 2 on New Year’s Day 2022.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead however City levelled by means of Riyad Mahrez’s penalty and, with the Gunners down to 10 males following Gabriel’s purple card, snatched a stoppage-time winner by means of Rodri.
Arteta, who missed the fixture following a constructive Covid check, believes that match was a giant step ahead for Arsenal and that they learnt some precious classes.
He stated: “I could feel it from home and it was a huge step. It was a big one, with the way we played but we ended up losing the game and took some big lessons from it as well, but a lot of positives.”
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