Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has claimed that Mikel Arteta has a significant advantage heading into Sunday's clash against Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola's side travel to the Emirates Stadium enjoying a sequence of 17 consecutive victories in all competitions, which has seen them establish themselves as runaway leaders in the Premier League.
Arsenal's form this season has been varied, with last weekend's victory over Leeds United coming off the back of consecutive defeats, and City are firm favourites for the clash.
The odds are certainly stacked against Arsenal, who have not beaten City in the Premier League since 2015 and are not fancied for this weekend's game.
However, Silvestre doesn't see it that way as he believes that Arteta's time working with City puts Arsenal with an advantage heading into the game.
"Arteta has a massive advantage when he faces Man City. He has been with them in the dressing room, he will know every single player besides for the ones that have just arrived – which is only Diaz," he told GentingBet.
"He’ll be able to give every Arsenal player many tips as to how to deal with them. Of course, everyone knows how City will play, their style of football and how they operate but Mikel has a very deep understanding – so it is a massive advantage.
"In the last few games that Arsenal have faced Man City, it has been a fair fight. With the return of [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and the confidence of the Leeds result, Arsenal can put up a fight and give Man City a tough game."
That may have been the case for last season's FA Cup triumph against City, but Arsenal were beaten comfortably in the league earlier this season.
