Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to "prove" themselves at the Emirates on Wednesday in what the Catalan expects to be a "big battle".
City can go top of the league with a win against Arsenal and extend the Gunners' own slump to three successive league games without a win, but the Blues boss is cautioning against the idea that the win against Aston Villa has sparked a turning point.
Guardiola has labelled Arsenal as the best team in the league so far, a feeling reinforced in the tight FA Cup fourth-round game between the two teams a couple of weeks ago, and he is expecting another tough test in London.
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"So far they are the best team in the Premier League. We felt it a couple of weeks ago. The commitment, they are sharp. It will be a big, big battle. In the departments, you have to be ready," he said.
"I do not truly believe one week ago we are out of form and now we're back in form. Every game is different, you can play good and win and everything is perfect but tomorrow you could lose. Many games to play. Tomorrow is an important one, everyone knows it, and we'll try to do our best.
"It's important because we can take the points, the best team so far could not. But after Nottingham Forest, Champions League, six games away. I have a feeling many things can happen. Tomorrow can help us be there but there are many games, tough games. We cannot deny it's important to prove ourselves, handle the many aspects."
Guardiola has been critical of the body language of some of his players recently but he's changed tack in the last week, insisting the spirit is growing within the camp once again.
"Listen after Arsenal there was this togetherness, they are incredible human beings I have no complaints," he said. "Everyone makes mistakes, me first. The mood is good, really really good for many years. Many things happen, success, sometimes little things must be adjusted to understand things differently. We are delighted to be together not because we win against Villa or lose against Spurs."
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