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Boss on City and gaining credibility

A victory over Manchester City this weekend is more important for Arsenal's credibility and confidence than the league table, according to Arsene Wenger.

The Premier League champions visit Emirates Stadium on Saturday five weeks after a heavy defeat to the Gunners in the Community Shield, but they sit a point above Arsenal after three games of the new season.

Wenger wants to redress the balance and he thinks a positive result for Arsenal could set the tone for their season - especially after his team's struggles against their title rivals last term.

"We have now got the opportunity to show that we have grown as a team"

Arsene Wenger

"It is a good opportunity to show that we have improved on that front because a year before it was completely the opposite and last year it was like that," said Wenger.

"We have now got the opportunity to show that we have grown as a team, that we are more mature and ready for the fight. Let’s do it.

"I don’t think that this game is very important for us mathematically [just] because we dropped points away from home [at Everton and Leicester]. But it gives us credibility and confidence if we do well.

"It’s a big game and for us it is a home game as well. We had a decent start in the Premier League but of course we dropped some points and we have a good opportunity at home to play against Manchester City and get the three points."

Arsenal have been handed a tricky start to the campaign with early tests against the likes of Everton, Man City, Tottenham and Chelsea, but Wenger is not concerned by that.

"They [Man City] have the same problem," he said. "I think you have to accept your schedule and to deal well with it and adapt. Our game is to accept and adapt and give your best performance.

"The pressure is big in a game like that but you want that, we enjoy that and it’s also an opportunity to show that you can deal with it and that we have the quality to do it."