Pep Guardiola’s mind games ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City have already started, with the manager praising the Gunners on Sunday.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives instructions to Jack Grealish of Manchester City during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives instructions to Jack Grealish of Manchester City during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

With both teams seeing their Premier League fixtures postponed this weekend, neither league leaders Arsenal nor third-place Manchester City will play another league fixture until after the international break.

Arsenal play against FC Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday, whilst Manchester City face Newcastle United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

But the next time both play in the league, it will be in a match between the two at the Etihad Stadium on March 31st.

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on December 3, 2023. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on December 3, 2023. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

Though the game isn’t for another few weeks, City boss Pep Guardiola has already started on the mind games by heaping praise on Arsenal.

With City scraping a draw at Anfield on Sunday, Guardiola compared the performance to Arsenal’s recent run of form.

“We need 98, 99 minutes to draw a game or win the games, Arsenal need 25 minutes to go 3-0 every game,” Guardiola said.

“[On Saturday] was a little bit tighter, but…we knew it, we knew last season when Arsenal make 50 points [in the first half of the season].

“I’m not surprised about the situation right now, not at all.”

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola attends the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on January 27, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola attends the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on January 27, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal’s mood going into that City fixture is undoubtedly going to be determined in part by what happens on Tuesday.

If Arsenal win and progress to the next round of the Champions League, the momentum keeps going and the Gunners will be feeling good ahead of the City clash.

If not, the pressure builds on the City game, with the Premier League then representing Arsenal’s only shot at silverware.

Either way, it looks like Guardiola already has one eye on that match.