Pablo Zabaleta has warned Arsenal not to read too much into
their win over Manchester City last month as they prepare to lock horns again.
Arsene Wenger's side beat the Premier League champions
3-0 in the Community Shield at Wembley courtesy of goals from Santi Cazorla,
Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud.
City return to London to face Arsenal in a mouth-watering
Premier League encounter on Saturday and Manuel Pellegrini's men will still be
licking their wounds after suffering a shock 1-0 home defeat to Stoke City last
time out.
Zabaleta is expected to recover from a knock sustained in
Argentina's friendly victory over world champions Germany to take his place in
the City side and the defender expects Pellegrini's team to give a better
account of themselves in the capital this time around.
"It [the Community Shield defeat] was the first game
of the campaign and the squad were not all back from the summer or 100 per cent
fit," the full-back told City's official website.
"We are much stronger than we were a month ago and
we will continue to improve and get back into our stride as each game goes by.
"That said, Arsenal are a very good team and it is
always a hard game at the Emirates.
"They have improved their squad and brought in some
great players to strengthen their title bid but we are looking to bounce back
after the Stoke defeat and we will go there to win three points."
Zabaleta is wary of the threat posed by Arsenal's
big-money signing Alexis Sanchez. The marauding right-back believes the Chile
international will prove to be a shrewd acquisition.
"Sanchez is a very quick, sharp player who can play
wide or as a striker but I feel he is most dangerous when he is on the
flanks," he said.
"He did very well at Barcelona and he is a difficult
player to face because you know you are in for a tough afternoon when you face
him.
"He is also works very hard for the team, especially
when they don't have the ball and he has become a very important player for
Chile so he is a great signing for Arsenal."
Wenger could hand a debut to deadline-day signing Danny
Welbeck following his move from Manchester United.
The forward scored both goals in England's 2-0 Euro 2016
qualifying win against Switzerland on Monday and has been given the chance to
kick-start his career at Arsenal.
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Leicester City in
their last league match, but Wenger views Saturday's encounter as a chance to
demonstrate the progress that the FA Cup holders have made.
"Saturday is a good opportunity to show we have
grown as a team and we are ready for the fight," said the Frenchman.
Ramsey's fitness will be assessed after the midfielder
picked up an ankle injury in Wales' victory in Andorra on Tuesday, while Kieran
Gibbs (hamstring), Mikel Arteta (ankle) and Mesut Ozil (knock) have all been
passed fit.
City have a concern over striker Stevan Jovetic
(hamstring) and will be hoping Fernando (groin) is available after he was
injured against Stoke.
Arsenal have not beaten City in the last four Premier
League meetings between the two sides and were hammered 6-3 at the Etihad
Stadium last season.
Culled from Soccerway
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