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He has made ten interceptions already for his new club in the Premier League, three more than any teammate. Only Bukayo Saka has made more tackles. Rice has carried the ball more than any other Arsenal player this season too.<\/p>\n
His physical presence and his reading of the play make him almost two players in one. In terms of the control he brings and the regulation of the side\u2019s tempo, he is like a midfield traffic light with an unerringly accurate red, amber and green setting.<\/p>\n
For Arsenal the sight of City has represented an abrupt stop sign. They have a couple of FA Cup wins but league dates with Pep\u2019s footballing polymaths have proved as fruitless as a November bramble pick.<\/p>\n
\u200cArsenal are not alone in that experience of course in the Guardiola era. This season City have been tested internally by events but they have managed the departure of captain Ilkay Gundogan and the long-term loss to injury of Kevin de Bruyne with the assuredness you would expect of a winning machine.<\/p>\n
\u200cThe defeat at Molineux last weekend was a bolt from the blue but, outstanding though the result was for the home side, there was an element of freakishness about it since City had 23 shots in the game to Wolves\u2019 three. If City were to lose again today it would mark their first back-to-back defeats in the league for almost five years – a staggering statistic which underlines the extent of their dominance.<\/p>\n
For the health of English football City – champions for five of the past six years – could do with some competition at the top. Yawn many might at the Old Firm duopoly north of the border but there has been the same level of diversity when it comes to Premier League champions over that period.<\/p>\n
\u200cWith the two other most successful sides of the Premier League era Manchester United and Chelsea off the pace, the challenge will have to come from elsewhere. Newcastle will only grow stronger but are acclimatising to the balancing act that being in the Champions League involves.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Liverpool look more like their real selves and could give it a crack, Newcastle likewise but the early evidence is that it is likely to come down to Arsenal to keep City honest. For all the disappointment of surrendering an eight-point lead to City last season, the reality was that Mikel Arteta\u2019s side overachieved in finishing runners-up.<\/p>\n This time around with their squad strengthening – and in particular the addition of Rice – second place would be more of a par score for them. Faced with the best side in Europe though, the leap to first is a colossal one. Today we get to find out how realistic a proposition that is.<\/p>\n
Arsenal get big Man City boost as Guardiola issues injury update on John Stones[NEWS] <\/strong>
Arsenal star Saliba opens up on ‘painful’ Man City exchange ahead of title clash[QUOTES] <\/strong>
Ivan Toney backed to be ‘better than Ian Wright’ if Arsenal complete transfer[TRANSFER] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/Erling-Haaland-4999058.jpg?r=1696662977247\")
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