Mikel Arteta has told Arsenal’s players they will be aiming for victory at Manchester City on Sunday after receiving criticism for a defensive approach during the 0-0 draw there in March.
City pipped Arsenal by a point to claim an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, winning their remaining nine matches after that goalless game. Both teams drew 0-0 with Italian opposition in the first round of Champions League matches this week, City held at home by Inter and Arsenal having David Raya to thank for a brilliant double save against Atalanta.
Arteta, whose side face a third straight away fixture after beating Spurs last Sunday, has refused to criticise scheduling that means City will have an extra 24 hours to prepare. Rodri said after City secured the title in May that he knew they would emerge victorious when Arsenal came to the Etihad for a draw because they “lack mentality”, but Arteta has insisted he will set up his team to win.
“For sure we will prepare to try and win, like we did [against Atalanta],” the manager said. “That’s been the message already. In order to do that there are going to be things that we have to do much better than tonight. There are some things that we have done exceptionally well tonight and we are going to have to do them again. Because we all know we need a big performance to beat them.”
Arsenal lacked creativity against Atalanta in the absence of their injured captain Martin Ødegaard and created only a couple of real chances. Arteta – who must decide whether to drop Thomas Partey for Jorginho after the Ghana midfielder’s poor display – accepted his team have not been at their attacking best but hopes they can rediscover their form against City.
“We want to improve in certain areas but in order to do that it’s important that we have to be much, much better,” he said. “We have been really open about discussing that. But the chances have to be created because the process has to be good.”
The £42m signing Riccardo Calafiori is in contention to make his first start for Arsenal after recovering from an injury sustained with Italy. He was a second-half substitute against Atalanta and is likely to vie with the impressive Jurriën Timber for the left-back role. Calafiori admitted he faced a tough assignment to get in the team after four clean sheets from five matches this season.
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“It’s a huge challenge but I knew that already before I came and I think I can give my qualities, my skills to the team and I’m happy to do it,” he said. “I know I can give more.”
Asked whether Arsenal needed to lay down a title marker by beating City, he said: “We don’t need to speak about them because we have to focus on ourselves and we can beat them if we do our things well. We believe we can win, for sure. Every game we have to win. That’s our belief and our strength of feeling. We can do it.”
