Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he enjoys watching Arsenal play as he can “learn a lot” from them.
The Gunners are in contention for a Premier League and Champions League double, sitting six points clear at the top of the table and with a European semi-final against Atletico Madrid lined up.
But their style of play under manager Mikel Arteta has increasingly been criticised, having scored 37% of their 62 league goals from set-pieces this season and just two goals from open play in their last five games.
Arsenal travel to second-place City in a monumental contest on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 BST) knowing they will go a long way to claiming their first title in more than two decades if they avoid defeat.
Asked if he enjoyed watching Arsenal in action, Guardiola said: “Yes. People are so demanding. From the media, supporters, everyone. I enjoy watching them. I learn a lot in many things.
“What people want is to win and we will fight. An aspect that is really, really important that we cannot fight against is [Arsenal going] 22 years without winning the Premier League. They have something that makes them unique. I know that.
“I knew that feeling when we arrived here. For a long time we didn’t win the Premier League. Manuel [Pellegrini] and [Roberto] Mancini did it but for our era I would say, I know how you feel that first win.
“That is something that we cannot play against, that is why we have to focus on the way we have to play.”
