Pep Guardiola disputes Mikel Arteta claim for Man City vs Arsenal

Pep Guardiola disputed whether Arsenal can achieve their ambition against Manchester City after Mikel Arteta called for perfection from his players.

Arsenal are on top of the Premier League and lead City by five points but head to the Etihad knowing that Guardiola's side are unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions and can seize control of the title race with three points. Both teams have it in their control ahead of Wednesday, but that will no longer be the case after the match.

Arteta called for "absolute perfection in every single ball" from his players as they look to come out on top against City, but Guardiola doesn't believe either team will be able to get exactly what they want. With two teams going up against each other in similar styles, the manager expects a competitive contest.

Also read: Every word from Pep Guardiola ahead of Arsenal clash

"Perfection doesn't exist in football. You cannot be perfect and win the game. We know what happened against Bayern Munich and in the future against top teams your standards have to be so high," he said. "The way they play against so many teams, we have to be really good to impose our game.

"In these type of games we decide to make so intense in many things and be so aggressive, always the spaces are there. The quality of the players to have the ball under pressure, it will not be a game where one team will have 65-70 per cent possession. It's not going to happen."

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