The Gunners will host reigning Premier League winners Manchester City in matchday eight of the domestic competition and will be looking for redemption after seeing their dreams dashed by the Etihad Stadium outfit last season. Take a look at all the must-know information ahead of the ultimate showdown.
Manchester City visit the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal in the Premier League matchday eight fixture. It's a huge showdown for English football as the two teams that led the table last season face each other.
Pep Guardiola's men were expected to be the runners-up in the Premier League due to Arsenal's superb term but they managed to overtake the London club in the title race. The Gunners were favourites to lift the trophy this season but they lost the top spot when they faced the Sky Blues at the Etihad Stadium on 26th April 2023.
The showdown ended 4-1 to the Manchester outfit thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's brace and goals scored by John Stones and Erling Haaland. It was from that moment on that the Gunners lost their lead and fought to regain it but the invincible City dashed their dreams.
Sunday's encounter will be the first meeting between the two English giants in the 2023/24 campaign in domestic competition. Mikel Arteta's men will be looking for redemption after last season's disappointment but the treble winners will not make it easy for them.
However, manager Pep Guardiola is aware that a tough game awaits them at the Gunners' home as he believes they are long-term Premier League title rivals.
"They were the biggest rival last season like in the past they were not there - they already arrived and will stay there for a long time," he said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the matchday eight fixture.
"Absolutely [they will be title rivals], along with Liverpool. To analyse contenders, the idea is the first 10 games. We haven't played 10. We have to wait but big clubs are always contenders. Arsenal is back. When I was a young boy and starting as a manager at Barcelona I know they fought Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United team. Then for many years they were not there but now they're back.
"It's a contender, yes, and when you see in the calendar it says you go to the Emirates [you know] it's a tougher one," he added.
Changes to the starting XI of both teams are expected due to suspensions and injured key players in both teams.
The last meeting between the two sides was in the Community Shield on 6th August 2023, where Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties after the 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw. However, the Gunners have lost their last twelve games against Manchester City in the English top flight, scoring just five goals and conceding 33. It's Arsenal's longest losing streak against any Premier League rival.
Nonetheless, coach Mikel Arteta believes the Community Shield win will give them hope of winning Sunday's home game: "To win a title against Man City is always something you have to value. The way we did it as well and it gives us confidence and belief that we can beat them.
He went on to add: "We aren't looking back for sure because there were different players participating in those games, but we know one thing for certain, that we're going to have to be at our best. We have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes. Then we have a chance."
Mikel Arteta's men are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches - against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.
Nevertheless, they lost 1-2 in their last encounter in European competition against Lens in the Champions League group stage meeting while Manchester City won 3-1 against RB Leipzig in the same tournament.
But the Manchester outfit's run in the Premier League is not quite as positive as Arsenal's. They lost 1-2 against Wolves on matchday seven. Moreover, they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup against Newcastle.
If City were to defeat Arsenal, it would constitute the tied-longest winning streak in the Premier League for a team against an opponent.
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: John Brooks
Game: Arsenal vs Manchester City
Location: Emirates Stadium, London
Time: 8th October 2023, 17.30 CET