Mikel Arteta returns back to the Etihad this week but his time as the manager of Arsenal meaning the Spaniard will definitely have inside knowledge about the side which he left only a couple of months ago.
Manchester City go into this match at the back of 2-0 loss to Man United and some of the Gunners fans believe, that their side could pick up an even easier win in midweek due to the information that Mikel Arteta has managed to gather from working under Pep Guardiola all this while.
And while the Arsenal boss has admitted that he does have an idea of what Manchester City will try and do but it will need a lot of class to stop the Citizens from achieving their target.
The manager admitted in his press conference: “It gives me a very clear idea of what they are trying to do, what they will be looking to do, but it’s something different to be able to stop that and as well create the issues that I think we can create for them.
“That has to happen on the day, when they are at their best, we know what they are capable of doing, the variation they have.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the players on the pitch and their performance.
“It’s going to be a very special night, I am very excited to get back there. I have some fantastic memories, a lot of friends, a lot of people that I like.
“But obviously now I am in a different position, another bench and I will defend my club as well as I can.
“I think we have to be at our best, that’s for sure. You have any chance to win a game at the Etihad against those players, we have to be at our best.
“I think we are in two different processes and levels, at the moment we have to try manage those individually and collectively. We have to be at our best.”
Will Mikel Arteta be the difference-maker?
Man City playing at home will most definitely look to attack from the very first minute and this is where Mikel Arteta will have to try and stop them.
Players like David Luiz and Mustafi have been really average for Arsenal all throughout the season which is right now the biggest concern for the Gunners boss.
But apart from that, the other aspects of Arsenal seem to be falling in place for pretty smoothly and if the defenders can hold fort on Wednesday then there’s every chance that the North London side might return home with something positive.
