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Clash of the titans: Manchester City against Arsenal gets its prediction
Manchester City second on the Premier League table will on Friday welcome EPL leaders Arsenal at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola will hope to have over his former assistant Mikel Arteta when they clash in the FA Cup tie.
Man City will clash with their EPL title rivals Arsenal for FA Cup fifth round place
Meanwhile, former England forward Chris Sutton has delivered his prediction as the two Premier League title rivals prepare to clash at the Etihad.
Sutton expects Man City to progress to the FA Cup round with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal
And while Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium on Friday night, the north London giants will be looking to progress to the fifth round at the expense of their host City.
Meanwhile, with five points separating Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, the Gunners with a game in hand are desperately seeking their first league title since 2004 as City are bidding to defend their crown.
And with the two teams yet to meet in the Premier League this season, National Daily can confirm that Sutton is of the expectation that Guardiola’s side will ‘edge’ their first encounter with Arteta’s men in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
‘This is a brilliant tie to get the fourth round started and it is going to be interesting to see how both managers approach it, because they meet again in the Premier League in the middle of February,’ Sutton told BBC Sport.
‘City boss Pep Guardiola always selects strong teams in the domestic cups, but we don’t know how big Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will go, given his side’s position at the top of the table.
‘The FA Cup clearly won’t be Arteta’s priority, but his side have got so much momentum at the moment while City are still not at their fluid best.
‘I am sure it will be all smiles between the pair of them beforehand, because Arteta was one of Guardiola’s assistants at City before taking the Gunners job, but this is going to be a fiercely fought contest – which I think City will edge 2-1.’
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has said Mikel Arteta had a ‘great, massive influence’ on him before he left his role as his Manchester City assistant to join Arsenal.
‘I had the feeling, we knew it when he was here, about his ability for City,’ Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.
‘I don’t know my part on him but his influence on me was great, massive, so important in becoming a better manager. If I had left, Mikel would be here and he would be the best, absolutely.
‘I am not a guy to say, “no, you have to stay with me”. Everyone has dreams. We felt if one team could offer him the chance to be manager he would leave.
‘I know he went to “his” club, the team he dreams of. He’s a supporter, for the fact he played there, he was a captain there. He loves the club.
‘I remember when we were together here, when we scored goals, he’d jump a lot and celebrate – except against one team, Arsenal.
‘People have to fly when they believe it is the best. Life is too short. Spend time in a place you believe suits you better.