Manchester City may be hoping to emulate Arsene Wenger’s feat in the 2003/04 season when Arsenal went the whole season unbeaten, but the Gunners’ boss is optimistic he can stop Pep Guardiola’s side from reenacting that feat.
The Gunners go to the Etihad next Sunday with City having won nine and drawn just one of their 10 games so far. It has seen them tipped for the title already.
But Wenger said: “That’s normal because at the moment they are on a good run and people extend always these good runs to the end of the season - but at some stage they have to be stopped.”
Arsenal have won all four of their games in all competitions since losing at Watford earlier this month.
On Saturday they came from behind to beat Swansea at the Emirates. Wenger, who led the Gunners to an unbeaten League campaign during the 2003-4 season, believes the pundits underestimate the difficulty of maintaining a high level from start to finish.
“It’s true because nobody does that, run away,” he said. “but we can still just focus on this game and try to give our best and prepare well, focus and give our best there.”
Asked whether the pressure will increase on the City players to keep up their wonderful run, Wenger added: “Yes.
“But the most difficult, the pressure is really on when you don't win.
“When you win, okay, you have a kind of pressure but the real pressure in our job is when you don't win and you have absolutely to win.
“If tomorrow you are a manager and I give you the choice to sit on the bench of Crystal Palace or City, what would you say? So I think yes, it's a pressure, but it's a nice one."
