Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists he will not take his eye off RC Lens, ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City.
The Gunners face the French side in the Champions League tomorrow night, before hosting City at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.
After City suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Wolves on Saturday, the Gunners will have the chance to make a real statement about their title ambitions. Arsenal won 4-0 at Bournemouth on Saturday and are one point behind Pep Guardiola’s side.
But Arteta is keen for his side to continue their good start in Europe, after they beat PSV 4-0 in their first group game, and has suggested he is unlikely to rest players tomorrow. Arsenal have been assessing Bukayo Saka after he went off injured against Bournemouth, and he took part in training on Monday.
“I am just thinking how we can prepare for Lens,” said Arteta. “It’s going to be a really tough match away from home, to try to win it, and City will be the next step.
“But we’re taking a lot of good things [with us] for Tuesday and [we’ll] again try to make the right decision with the line-up to maintain the level we are showing.”
On the prospect of going top of the table going into the upcoming international break, Arteta said: “It would be great, but we have another game and a lot of things are going to happen still.”
Arteta said he was particularly pleased for Kai Havertz, after the £65million summer signing scored his first goal for his new club from the penalty spot on Saturday.
“If there’s a player who deserves that it’s Kai, I’m so happy for him,” said Arteta.
“I’m really happy for the win, but even happier to be part of a team that shows the human qualities they did. Without me telling them anything, to show that empathy to a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they warmed me even more.”
