Arteta emphasizes Arsenal's goal of winning against Manchester City.

The 33rd round of the 2025/26 Premier League season will feature a highly anticipated match, with Arsenal traveling to the Etihad Stadium to challenge formidable rivals Manchester City. Mikel Arteta stated that his team always prepares for matches with the goal of winning, and doesn't even spend a second discussing the possibility of a draw.

In the last round of the Premier League, Arsenal equalized through a penalty converted by Dzekeresh after falling behind, but conceded a goal later in the game, ultimately losing 1-2 at home to Bournemouth. With the loss of three points, Arsenal remain top of the table with 70 points.

As for Guardiola's Manchester City, the "Citizens" secured a 3-0 victory over Chelsea in their last match, thanks to goals from Nico Aurelli, Gue, and Doku. Manchester City currently sits in second place in the standings with 64 points and holds the advantage of having played one game less.

However, in the earlier Champions League quarter-final second leg, Arsenal defeated Sporting Lisbon 1-0 on aggregate to advance to the semi-finals.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said at a press conference, "We have earned our current position through our own hard work, and we have the opportunity to compete and strive for victory in this game, against what may be the best team and the best manager in the history of this league. It is a huge honor, and we can't wait to get on the pitch. We will definitely prepare for this game with the goal of winning and will see it as a huge opportunity."

"We won't spend a second discussing a draw. We prepare for every game to win. That's how we are, and we will continue to do so."

Arteta pointed out, "Our team must provide all the tools and elements needed to win the game. We are facing a very strong opponent, and we know that very well. We have done that in the past nine months in various different environments, and we have played against them many times. We know what we need to do."

“I think mentality is a very important part. Every detail in the game is crucial, and so is technique, because without technique, there is nothing to talk about. But this aspect obviously takes up a lot of room for improvement, and we have improved a lot in this area.”

Furthermore, Arteta stated, "I know there are still six games left, and this is a very important game for both teams, which will change the balance of the game to some extent. Winning a game in the Premier League is difficult for any team, so after this game, we still have many tough opponents to face, and we can only continue to observe what happens next."

“I think this sense of tension should be like a vitamin for everyone. No matter what we do, it will motivate us to become better, to strive for better and be more motivated, but it should never exist in a negative way.”

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