Fri Sep 20 23:51:27 UTC 2024: ## Arsenal Aim for Victory at Manchester City After March Draw Criticism
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared his side will be going for all three points when they face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, vowing to take a more attacking approach than the goalless draw in March which ultimately contributed to City winning the title.
Arteta’s team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing Champions League draw with Atalanta, where a lack of creativity in the absence of injured captain Martin Ødegaard proved costly. While acknowledging the need for improvement in attacking areas, Arteta has insisted he will set up his team to win against City.
“For sure we will prepare to try and win,” Arteta said. “We all know we need a big performance to beat them.”
Despite City having an extra 24 hours to prepare due to scheduling, Arteta refused to criticize the arrangement. He dismissed City’s claims of a lack of “mentality” in Arsenal, stating that his team will be focused on their own performance.
The Gunners have been impressive defensively this season, with four clean sheets in their last five matches. However, with new signing Riccardo Calafiori potentially making his first start for the club, and competition for the left-back position hotting up, the upcoming clash with City promises to be an exciting one.
Calafiori, who is competing with Jurriën Timber for a starting spot, believes Arsenal can beat City if they play to their potential. “We can beat them if we do our things well. We believe we can win, for sure,” he said.
The match is set to be a blockbuster encounter, with both sides looking to make a statement in the early stages of the season.
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