Man City vs Arsenal LIVE: Team news, line-ups and more from FA Cup fourth round clash

Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland

Arsenal XI: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Vieira, Trossard, Saka, Nketiah

When it comes to some of the most exciting players on the market, Edu no longer has to make the phone calls. The Arsenal sporting director is now taking them, as so many of the best talents and agents go to him.

They can see which way the club is headed. Declan Rice is now considering them over Chelsea and Manchester United, to go with a host of other names. Arsenal are very suddenly one of the most attractive prospects in sport.

“Suddenly” is the key word, because it makes a considerable difference from this time last year and a profound difference from Mikel Arteta’s first full season.

This week’s build-up has been a trip down memory lane for Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta as they’ve been asked what it was like to work with one another.

Guardiola was also asked why City allowed Arteta to leave for Arsenal.

“I am not a guy to say, ‘no, you have to stay with me’,” added Guardiola. “Everyone has dreams. We felt if one team could offer him (the chance) to be manager he would leave.

“I know he went to ‘his’ club, the team he dreams of. He’s a supporter, for the fact he played there, he was a captain there. He loves the club.

“I remember when we were together here, when we scored goals, he’d jump a lot and celebrate – except against one team, Arsenal. People have to fly when they believe it is the best.

“Life is too short. Spend time in a place you believe suits you better.”

Man City have won 13 of their 16 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions under Pep Guardiola (one draw, two defeats) with the team only beating Burnley (14) more often since the manager arrived.

However, both of City’s defeats to Arsenal have come in the FA Cup with the most recent coming in the 2020 FA Cup semi-finals.

If Arsenal become champions, there is a case for branding it the fifth Premier League won by Pep Guardiola’s management. Mikel Arteta, after all, could be portrayed as the Frankenstein’s monster of the title race, created by Guardiola, serving as his nemesis.

Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant when Manchester City posted 100 points in a season. At the half-way stage now, his Arsenal have 50. Guardiola tutored him, mentored him and encouraged him, but did not keep him by his side.

“Mikel wanted to leave,” he rationalised. “What do you want me to say? Chain him here and say, ‘you don’t leave’.”

That Arteta’s heart was at Arsenal, the club he captained, was apparent in his time at the Etihad Stadium when City found the net. “Always he jumps and celebrates, except against one team,” Guardiola recalled.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he always hoped that the club could challenge Pep Guardiola’s prolific Man City side for trophies and is happy that this is the case this season.

“I always hoped that was going to be the case one day and it’s happening this season,” he said, “That’s not going to change any friendship, the moments that we have, how important he is in my life, how important he is in my profession.

“We’re both willing to win and defend our clubs in any way and that’s always been the case since day one. I would prefer to do it with someone else to be fair.”

Pep Guardiola comes up against his old assistant tonight when Mikel Arteta brings his Arsenal team to the Etihad Stadium for an FA Cup fourth round tie.

Guardiola spoke in the build up to tonight’s clash about Arteta and says that he always thought the Spaniard would make a good manager.

“I had the feeling, we knew it when he was here, (about) his ability for City,” said Guardiola on Thursday. “I don’t know my part on him but his influence on me was great, massive, so important in becoming a better manager.

“If I had left, Mikel would be here and he would be the best, absolutely.”

The Arsenal boss learned his trade under the former Barcelona tactician, providing knowledge of the English came from his time as a player in the Premier League.

And Guardiola has detailed how Arteta specifically helped him to form a gameplan after moving to the Etihad.

Man City will have the advantage if Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta make changes, as the Premier League champions have the edge over the challengers in terms of squad depth.

Arteta may also want to wait until the Premier League clashes to reveal his true tactical hand, which should also offer City the better chance of winning.

Man City XI: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasi, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Trossard