The Gunners hold a one-point lead over Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
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“It was a needed step for our team”, he said.
“It will be a very tight game because if you look at the numbers since the start of the season, offensively and defensively the numbers are very close. After that, we have to answer on the pitch ‘are we good enough?'”
If Ozil can deliver something special against City on Monday night, it could see Wenger’s side sitting top of the table at Christmas as they go in search of their first league title since 2004.
The Germany worldwide has set up 13 goals in 16 Premier League games, more than any other player across the five top European leagues – La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and the Premier League. In the whole of 2014, Arsenal played 38 games, winning 20 games, drawing 10 and losing 8 (as opposed to this year, in which they won 23, drew 6 and lost 6 in 35 games).
“We are more mature. We have a chance, an opportunity to put things right, and we’ll focus on that”, the veteran French tactician added.
Arsene Wenger’s hosts are a point better off than City, with both teams behind surprise leaders Leicester City.
The Frenchman, who joined the Gunners for £13million in 2012, notched up his 50th Premier League aim in Sunday’s victory at Aston Villa, a victory that despatched Arsene Wenger’s aspect prime of the desk. “My problem is the game on Monday night [Manchester City]”.
“In the beginning it took me about two months to adapt but I always knew I was going to be OK”.
Wenger could have forward Alexis Sanchez back after he injured a hamstring in the draw at Norwich on 1 December.
Numerous reports have already linked Arsenal with a number of defensive midfielders of late and, according to reports in Spain yesterday, a deal for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez only just fell apart due to, you guessed it, a serious injury.
The German worldwide recently broke an EPL record by claiming assists in seven consecutive top-flight matches. But I believe now we have shown that what we did at Olympiacos is not a team of no character. I would have to be here a long time, play every game, and you don’t get a clean sheet in every game.
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Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City all seem ready to make exceptions to land Guardiola in the summer, but the prospect of replacing the legendary manager appears to be too alluring.
