The Gunners pushed City all the way in last season’s race to become champions. Mikel Arteta’s side led the way for much of the campaign before we overhauled them in the final stretch of the campaign.
City will travel to the Emirates on Sunday having won six out of our first seven league games to top the table going into this weekend.
Arsenal too have made a positive start and lie third just a point behind us.
But questioned about the significance of the game when addressing the media at Friday’s pre-match press conference, the boss said it was far too early in the campaign to assign too much importance to the fixture.
Instead, Guardiola said City’s main priority through October was in seeking to secure Champions League qualification through to next February’s knockout stages.
“This will not define a lot,” Guardiola asserted.
“It will be different when they come here at the Etihad - then it will depend on the situations we are in.
“We know where we came from with the Treble. And after that the tendency is to go down.
“We can play better or worse but in general in the training sessions the focus is there.
“After a few games we are top of the league, and we made an incredible step forward in the Champions League (winning our opening two group games).
“In this month, the Champions League is the most important thing by far, until February when it starts again.
“What I want is to arrive here in February when we start the Champions League to be in the competitions and that it’s close. To be close to the top of the league and keep the distance short and make the last 10 games in our competition ‘OK lets do it again.’
“(If you qualify for the Champions League knockout stages) You can focus on the Premier League until it (the Champions League) is back again. We made a big step on Wednesday (with the win at Leipzig), now we have Arsenal, the biggest rival last season.
“In the past they were not there. Now they will stay there.”
One thing Guardiola is all but certain about is that the Gunners will be serious contenders once more for the league crown.
Arsenal have significantly strengthened their squad in the summer with the capture of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, David Raya and Justin Timber, although the defender has sustained a long term injury.
And the City boss knows Arteta’s side will be present a formidable challenge both on Sunday in particular and across the season in general.
“Absolutely (they will be title rivals), along with Liverpool,” the boss added.
“To analyse contenders, the idea is the first 10 games. We haven’t played 10; we have to wait but big clubs are always contenders.
“Arsenal is back. When I was a young boy and starting as a manager at Barcelona. I know they fought Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United team.
“Then for many years they were not there but now they’re back.
“It’s a contender yes and when you see in the calendar it says you go to the Emirates (you know) it’s a tougher one.
ARSENAL V CITY APP COVERAGE
Our official app allows you to follow all of the action from the Emirates Stadium in one place.
Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, whilst our Matchday Live show will begin at 15:25pm (UK).
David James, Paul Dickov and Kevin Campbell will be our special guests on the latest Matchday Live show, offering their expert insight at half-time and in greater detail after the final whistle.
They will also answer viewer questions throughout the broadcast, with audience participation actively encouraged on Matchday Live. To get in touch, send a WhatsApp to: +447537186538.
During the game you can listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann while our text commentary continues.
Make sure to have push notifications turned on as well, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.
Highlights from the match, as well as a full-match replay [available on CITY+] will also be available.
