Arsenal's Declan Rice (left) and Kai Havertz celebrate victory after the final whistle in the ... [+]
Arsenal’s progress over the last two seasons has been remarkable. Not so long ago, many doubted whether Mikel Arteta was the right man to take the Gunners forward. Now, Arsenal is just 10 games away from winning the Premier
This will be the biggest test so far of Arsenal’s title credentials. The North London side has already beaten City once this season, but toppling the defending Premier League champions on their own patch will be an altogether different challenge. Victory would make the Gunners firm favourites to finish top of the table.
With Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, Sunday’s fixture could be the first episode of the Premier League’s next defining managerial rivalry. Of course, Arteta and Pep Guardiola have faced each other before as adversaries, but never before have the stakes been so high as they are now.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, interacts with Mikel ... [+]
Arteta worked under Guardiola at Manchester City for a number of years. He learned a lot from the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager before taking over at Arsenal where he has remoulded the team - and the club as a whole - in his own image. There is significant overlap between City and the Gunners in the way they play.
That Arteta and Guardiola used to be so close and worked together only makes their personal duel more compelling. If Guardiola is the master, Arteta is the apprentice. Sunday, however, presents the Arsenal manager with an opportunity to elevate him to the level of his former mentor and boss.
Arsenal's Italian midfielder #20 Jorginho celebrates after Arsenal's English midfielder #41 Declan ... [+]
There’s good reason to believe Arsenal can get the job done at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners’ boast the strongest defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding just 24 goals in 28 games. Set pieces have been a key part of Arteta’s strategy, as has counter-pressing which could give City an issue.
Not for two decades has Arsenal possesses such a strong lineup. The addition of Declan Rice from West Ham last summer gave the North London side greater presence in the centre of the pitch while Kai Havertz has justified his signing from Chelsea by providing a number of important goals at important times.
Under Arteta, Arsenal has developed into a team capable of competing at the top of English and European soccer. That has been proven by the success of the last two seasons. Now it’s time for Arsenal to show it can take the final step in its development. The Etihad Stadium would be the perfect place to do this.
