As Pep Guardiola pointed out last week, Manchester City have not been the best team so far in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal have. City temporarily moved above Arsenal in the table by beating Southampton on Saturday, before Arsenal continued their brilliant start by following up their derby win over Tottenham to record a statement win over Liverpool on Sunday.
That result will have been noted at City, who would still view Liverpool as a title rival despite their poor start, but are also aware of the fine job Mikel Arteta is doing at the Emirates.
While it was a result that keeps Arsenal top, it also gives City a golden chance to move 16 points ahead of Liverpool next Sunday. ALSO READ:Man City training squad for FC Copenhagen trip in Champions League It's a quirk of the fixture list this season that City's only 'Big Six' meetings before the World Cup will be the 6-3 derby win over Manchester United and Sunday's trip to Anfield.