Arsenal are set to conclude a demanding week on the road with a high-stakes match against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday. After securing a hard-fought victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s side then traveled to Bergamo for a goalless draw against Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday. Now, they face the daunting task of taking on City, having little time to rest.
The clash between the two top teams comes early in the season, with City sitting two points ahead of Arsenal at the summit of the league table after four games. City have narrowly edged out Arsenal to claim the title in the past two seasons, adding extra intensity to this early-season showdown.
“We’ve been preparing for this since pre-season,” Arteta revealed ahead of the match. “Obviously, we knew the schedule and we know that it’s extremely rare to play in these conditions with three massive away games in six days.”
Arteta emphasized the importance of physical, mental, and tactical preparation given the demanding schedule. “We’re making sure that everyone is ready for it because we’re going to need them, especially with the injuries that we had from the international break,” he added.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard remains sidelined with an ankle injury sustained while on international duty with Norway, and Arteta is unsure when the influential midfielder will return. “We need to see the development in the next week or so, how the ankle reacts first of all, and then the staff will give me an update on the time frame and how long he’ll be out for,” Arteta said.
Despite the challenges, Arteta reported no fresh injuries following the draw in Italy, though he admitted the team could have used more recovery time. “We wanted the same as them,” Arteta noted, referring to City’s extra day of rest after their home draw against Inter Milan on Wednesday. “We’re not getting it, so we have to adapt and make the most of the time that we have today, tomorrow, and on the morning of the match to prepare in the best way to go there and win the game.”
With both teams eager to assert their early dominance in the league, Arsenal’s visit to the Etihad promises to be a thrilling encounter as Arteta’s men look to maintain their momentum against the reigning champions.
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