Man City vs Arsenal LIVE: Team news and line-ups before Premier League showdown today

City held off Mikel Arteta’s side to win the title by just two points after the race went down to the final game last season.

Yet Guardiola does not even plan to mention the impact a potential victory would have on the league table to his players.

He said: “Why should I tell them when they know? They see the table, they know it. It’s not a motivation to win for five points after five fixtures.

“Just do a good game, do what you have to do.”

City have begun their latest title defence with four wins from four, while Arsenal have collected 10 points.

Guardiola said: “At an early stage of the season, it is nothing more than the mood for the next games.

“In terms of the table it isn’t very important. It will be important when we go to London in the second part of the season.

“It is so important but in terms of winning or losing the Premier League it’s not. After five games that’s never important.

“But if we don’t think Arsenal, with the quality they have, is important we will be wrong.”

The champions have the chance to open up a five-point lead over the Gunners, their closest challengers in the past two seasons, with victory in their Premier League encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Fresh from a midweek 0-0 draw apiece comes a clash of two clubs whose last meeting finished goalless. It wasn’t always the case when Manchester City faced Arsenal. The problem for the Londoners, however, was that Pep Guardiola’s team scored the vast majority of the goals. Two seasons ago, matches that shaped the title race finished 3-0 and 4-1 to City. Last season, however, matches billed as title deciders ended 1-0 to Arsenal and 0-0. City nevertheless retained their crown.

But if Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool leaves Mikel Arteta entrenched as Guardiola’s biggest remaining rival, there may have been a transformation in the showpiece occasions. They have been stripped of some of the excitement. Klopp’s duel with Guardiola was compelling in part because it contained so many goals: they were more likely to draw 2-2 than 0-0 and spectacular scorelines included 5-0, 4-0, 4-1, 4-3 and 3-2. Some came with Arteta by Guardiola’s side; now they are in neighbouring dugouts and opposing camps. Allies turned adversaries, the purists have started to show a puritanical streak.

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Man City against Arsenal, as the Gunners look to lay down an early marker in their title challenge.

While Man City will want to avoid any blip on their so-far flawless start to the season.

We will be bringing you all the build up, latest team news and live coverage of the match.