Ruben Dias issues blunt warning to Arsenal as secret Pep Guardiola plan revealed
Manchester City welcome former Premier League title rivals Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what already looks to be a key clash in the race for the title
by David McDonnell · The MirrorRuben Dias has warned Arsenal that Manchester City “will be ready” for them when the two title rivals meet on Sunday.
City defender Dias said Pep Guardiola 's side are not “running away” or “hiding” from such a big game early in the season and can handle whatever Mikel Arteta's side bring to the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal parked the bus the last time they came to the Etihad, back in March, earning a creditable 0-0 draw, although City went on to win the title by two points from the Gunners.
Arteta is expected to set his side up in a similar way on Sunday, to thwart and frustrate City and hope to hit them on the break, just as Inter Milan did in Wednesday's 0-0 Champions League draw. Whatever Arsenal - currently second in the table behind City – decide to do, Dias said Guardiola and his players will be ready as they look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.
“There's no running away from them, hiding from them,” said Dias. “If you want to be the best as a team, individually, in this league.
“We're not hiding from nothing. We want them to come and we want to be the best. We'll see what they'll do. Whatever they decide to do, we'll be ready.
“I would say, looking at the last few years, Arsenal and Liverpool have been the main opponents. But you never know, as every season is a new season. We definitely know that Arsenal is a contender and, as such, they deserve our respect.
“The season has just started and I'd say we're still far from our best. We're still progressing, in terms of the quality of our play, in mentality, in everything.”.
City defender Josko Gvardiol echoed team-mate Dias and revealed Guardiola will devise two or three ways for the team to play, depending on how Arsenal set up. Asked what City are expecting from Arsenal, Gvardiol said: “I cannot tell you, I really don't know how they will play. We need to prepare in two or three ways, just to be sure.
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“The good thing is we play at home. We'll have our supporters and always the derbies [big games] are tough games to play. We still have a few days to prepare.”
Gvardiol also joined calls from team-mates Rodri and Manuel Akanji to ease the fixture burden on players, with so many additional games to play this season, in particular with new Champions League format.
“I'm a very big fan of the new format,” said Gvardiol. “Of course, I would be happier if I could get some more days off, but it is what it is.
“Whatever I say, they're not going to change anything. I would be happier with more days off, especially for my other team-mates. I'm still young and fresh, they are the ones who probably need a rest. But I'm no-one to decide or change anything.”
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