Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he has been preparing for this clash against Manchester City since the summer.
Arsenal face a crucial test on Sunday as they travel to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, rounding off a gruelling seven-day stretch that has already seen them take on Tottenham Hotspur and Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side have navigated the challenging schedule relatively unscathed, securing a 1-0 win over Spurs and a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Bergamo.
At Friday’s press conference, Arteta revealed that he began preparing for the Manchester City clash as far back as pre-season.
“We’ve been preparing for this since pre-season,” Arteta said. “Obviously, we knew the schedule, and it’s extremely rare to play in these conditions with three massive away games in six days.”
Arteta acknowledged the brutality of the schedule but expressed confidence in his team’s preparation.
“But it was what it was, so we’ve prepared for that physically, mentally, and tactically,” he continued. “We’re making sure everyone is ready for it because we’ll need them, especially with the injuries we picked up during the international break.”
With injuries from the international break still a concern, Arteta’s strategic planning will be tested as the Gunners seek to maintain momentum against their title rivals.
