Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that his team can draw confidence from their Community Shield victory over Manchester City as they prepare to face the Premier League champions on Sunday. Despite not having beaten City in the league since 2015, Arteta feels that their penalty shootout win in August's curtain-raiser has given his team belief and the conviction that they can defeat their opponents.

Arteta acknowledges the importance of winning a title against a strong team like Manchester City, stating that it is something to be valued. He emphasizes that the manner in which they secured the victory further boosts their confidence. Arsenal had a promising run in the Premier League last season but faltered towards the end, allowing City to claim the title. Currently, City leads the league, but Arsenal is just one point behind in third place.

The Arsenal manager is determined to focus on the present rather than dwell on their poor league record against City. He acknowledges that different players have been involved in those past encounters, but he emphasizes the need for his team to perform at their best in every aspect of the game for the entire duration to have a chance of success.

Arteta, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at City, acknowledges that both coaches know each other well and have certain expectations. However, he believes that it is ultimately the players who can surprise the most. He highlights the importance of the players' performances in determining the outcome of the match.

Regarding team news, Arteta mentions that Bukayo Saka, who suffered an injury during the midweek Champions League match, is still in contention to play. However, Gabriel Martinelli is expected to miss the game due to a hamstring issue. City will be without midfielder Rodri, who is serving a three-match ban, while Bernardo Silva has returned to the squad. John Stones and Kevin de Bruyne have been ruled out.

In terms of head-to-head statistics, Arsenal has struggled against City in recent years, losing 15 of their past 16 meetings, including 12 consecutive Premier League defeats. However, they have managed to secure victories over City in FA Cup semi-finals. Arsenal has gone 16 top-flight games against City without keeping a clean sheet. Arteta has yet to defeat his former club in the Premier League, losing all seven meetings.

Arsenal is currently unbeaten in the Premier League, winning five and drawing two of their seven matches. However, they suffered their first loss of the season in the midweek Champions League game against Lens. The Gunners have had mixed results at home, winning 19 of their past 26 Premier League matches, but also experiencing losses to City and Brighton. They have struggled to keep clean sheets at home, conceding the majority of their goals at Emirates Stadium.

Manchester City could potentially face back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time since December 2018. They have had a higher loss percentage in matches without Rodri since his debut, compared to games with his involvement. Erling Haaland has been a key scorer against Arsenal, particularly in the latter stages of matches. Goalkeeper Ederson is set to make his 300th appearance for City on Sunday.

In terms of predictions, it is anticipated that Manchester City will come out on top with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

Naijamatta is a social networking site,

download Naijamatta from Google play store or visit www.naijamatta.com to register. You can post, comment, do voice and video call, join and open group, go live etc. Join Naijamatta family, the Green app.