Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged Arsenal’s resurgence, declaring that the North London club is returning to its former glory after a period of struggle.

Guardiola expressed his thoughts ahead of the high-stakes Premier League clash between the two teams at Emirates Stadium on Sunday terming Arsenal genuine title contenders this season.

“Absolutely, along with Liverpool. To analyse contenders, the idea is the first 10 games. We have to wait but big clubs are always contenders. Then for many years they were not there but now they’re back,” Guardiola said.

Arsenal’s last Premier League title victory was in 2004, and their near miss last season, which allowed Manchester City to secure their third consecutive league title, is seen as a clear indication of their resurgence.

Reflecting on his own experience as a young manager at Barcelona, Guardiola highlighted Arsenal’s historical significance as a formidable rival.

He stated, “They were the biggest rival last season and will remain so for a long time. Arsenal is back.” Guardiola draws parallels with the level of competition Arsenal provided when he was a player.

Both Manchester City and Arsenal have played seven games in the current season, with Arsenal being one of the only two teams remaining unbeaten, along with their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola says Man City exited Carabao because he doesn’t want to win 4 trophies

Guardiola’s perfect start to the season was interrupted by a 2-1 defeat to Wolves, and he anticipates a closely contested match at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, also expects a challenging encounter.

“My only worry is the quality of the opponent and on Sunday we have to be at our best for 100 minutes. That’s what we can control and we need to focus,” Arteta said ahead of the match.

Arsenal have struggled against Manchester City, having lost their past 12 league matches against them and not securing a top-flight victory in this fixture since 2015.