Arsene Wenger has vowed Arsenal “will not hide” when they face Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners have not won away from home at a top six side since January 2015 – when they beat City 2-0 – and risk falling 12 points behind the leaders if they suffer a fourth League defeat of the campaign.
City are five points clear at the top of the table and have averaged 3.5 goals per game so far this term.
Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at Chelsea in September hinted at a more resilient approach but when asked by Standard Sport whether they were capable of going toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola’s side, Wenger replied: “I wouldn’t like to come out on that but of course we will try to play our game. We will not hide.
“When we go there, we want to defend well but as well, you cannot go there and only be focused on only defending. We want as well to play, have the ball and create dangerous situations. The best way to defend sometimes is to attack.
“If you want to play football, when you walk out on the pitch you have to accept the gamble and the risk. It is part of the game. After, you have to rate the risk. Is it a bigger risk only to defend than to attack if a team is very strong to attack? Maybe it is a bigger risk only to defend.”
City have earned high praise for their displays this season with all-time record Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer claiming Guardiola has taken football to a “new level” this term.
They are unbeaten in the League so far but Wenger insisted it is premature to compare City to his 2003-04 Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ team which went all 38 League games undefeated.
“You leave the comments to what they are and focus on your own team,” he said. “It is difficult for me to comment. I do not see all their games. If you look back, historically, there are many great teams in England and they are certainly another one. But what is at stake for us is three points and no matter how, we want to go there and try to win the game.”
