Pep Guardiola and Gary Neville have both highlighted the advantage Manchester City hold over Arsenal in the Premier League title race due to extra preparation time. City swept aside Chelsea 3-0 to close the gap on the Gunners to six points, with a game in hand, ahead of their crucial clash next Sunday.
While Arsenal face a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP this week, City have a free week to prepare. Guardiola noted: 'We have long weeks now, being out of the Champions League. We are more fresh, training everybody, people understand more what to do.'
Gary Neville echoed this sentiment on Sky Sports: 'We have an enormous game next Sunday, one that will define the Premier League season. Man City smell blood. They're heading into a free week to prepare for a monstrous clash that Pep Guardiola will relish.'
City goalscorer Jeremy Doku emphasised the team's focus: 'First of all, recover, then just analyse Arsenal again, think about what my task is going to be, look at their weaknesses and strengths... Trust me, we'll be well prepared.'
Doku also highlighted the stakes: 'If you win this game, it is a big punch towards them. If you lose, it's in their hands... But if we win, it's in our hands and I prefer to have it in my hands.'
Mikel Arteta faces a defining week as Arsenal host Sporting CP before travelling to the Etihad, having recently lost to City in the Carabao Cup final.
