Mikel Arteta makes Pep Guardiola admission ahead of Man City vs Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spotted how Pep Guardiola is ‘adapting’ his Manchester City side ahead of their clash on Sunday.

City are a point ahead of the Gunners in the table, having won their first six league games before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend. Arsenal challenged Guardiola’s side for the majority of last season but stumbled in the latter stages to allow City to win their third consecutive league title.

While City have almost become accustomed to lifting the trophy, Arsenal have not won the league since their ‘Invincibles’ season. However, Arteta has admitted that the Gunners can be encouraged by their Community Shield victory in August as they prepare to host City this weekend.

“That was an important one for us. Winning a title against City is something you always have to value, the way we did it as well,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. “It gives us confidence and belief that we can beat them.

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“It was a while ago, after pre-season. We had some players available, some not. We are much further into the season so I think it will be a different game.”

Despite losing in the Champions League in midweek, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league and are enjoying their best start to a season since 2007. While his team are aiming to set records, Arteta’s side are also tasked with ending their hoodoo against City, with the Gunners’ last league win coming in 2015, though the manager was keen to take pressure off his players.

“We are not looking that far, that’s for sure,” Arteta continued. “They were not players