‘We are not going to spend one second talking about that’ – Arteta on Sunday’s clash with ‘arguably the best team and best manager this league has ever seen’

‘We are not going to spend one second talking about that’ – Arteta on Sunday’s clash with ‘arguably the best team and best manager this league has ever seen’

Mikel Arteta says he will “not spend one second” talking about playing for a draw at Manchester City.

Having thrown away the chance to go 12 points clear at the top of the table after a defeat by Bournemouth, Arsenal now find themselves with Manchester City hot on their heels. Pep Guardiola’s side have a chance to cut the gap to just three points when the league leaders visit the Etihad on Sunday, and also have a game in hand on the Gunners.

The City manager did not shy away from the importance of the fixture, and neither did Mikel Arteta when asked if it was the most important match of his career.

“It is certainly the most important one because it is the next one,” Arteta said. “We have earned the right to be in this position and to be challenging and with an opportunity to win against arguably the best team and best manager this league has ever seen and that is a huge privilege.”

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While City come into the meeting a week after their 3-0 win against Chelsea, Arsenal’s turnaround is just three days, following their narrow win on aggregate against Sporting Lisbon to progress to the last four of the Champions League.