MANCHESTER: When Manchester City ended last season without a major trophy for the first time since 2017, it led to intense debate and conjecture about the club鈥檚 direction.
With Liverpool claiming the Premier League title in impressive fashion and spending big this summer, Arsenal have emerged as the side most likely to stop Arne Slot鈥檚 side from becoming the dominant force as City had been.
Yet despite a horrific run of just one win in 13 games, Pep Guardiola鈥檚 men rallied in the previous campaign to finish third in the table and claim a coveted Champions League place amid fierce competition. That provided hope at the start of a new era.
With an overhaul of the squad, icons such as Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson departed, while Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and France attacker Rayan Cherki were among the new arrivals.
Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also joined from Paris Saint-Germain, where he helped the French side win their first Champions League.
For defender Josko Gvardiol, the changes mean it may take time to shape their future, but the ambition remains the same for a club that won an unprecedented four league titles in a row and the 2023 Champions League.
鈥淚鈥檓 here to win the games, to lift the trophies as well,鈥 said the 23-year-old. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not even a question (of whether) I want to win it. It is and it has to be like this, otherwise, if you don鈥檛 want it, then this is not the place for you.
鈥淏ut I can tell you I see everyone still has the hunger and desire to win everything, too. This is what we need, and this is a bit of what we missed last season. I鈥檓 really happy to see that.鈥
There was concern again when City started sluggishly with two defeats in their opening three league games.
But a 3-0 derby win over Manchester United and a 2-0 success in their Champions League opener against Napoli have lifted confidence before they visit Arsenal today at Emirates Stadium.
Gvardiol 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 read the comments鈥 that have written City off as title contenders, but the Croatia international admitted: 鈥淲e are still not at the level we want to be. We need to build slowly.
鈥淟ast season, it was not the best; we struggled a lot, but you can see we are still together as a team and having good results.
鈥淲e have quality. All we miss is a bit of confidence. The only way to build it back is to go game by game because the season is very long.鈥
Arsenal will have Viktor Gyokeres leading their attack following his summer move from Sporting, where he scored 54 times for the Portuguese club last season.
It included a hat-trick in a 4-1 Champions League win over City during their troubled period.
But the Etihad outfit have their own prolific striker in Norwegian Erling Haaland, who has scored 12 times this term for club and country.
Three have come this week against neighbors United and then Napoli, where he became the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals.
Haaland, 25, achieved the feat in 49 games, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy鈥檚 record, and is expected to challenge the competition鈥檚 scoring record of 140 held by Al-Nassr鈥檚 Cristiano Ronaldo.
鈥淓verything he does is magic,鈥 added Gvardiol. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice to have him up front. I would say they are different, but Gyokeres is a good player. I remember him from the game against Sporting.
鈥淲e struggled and we lost the game. As always, Arsenal is going to be a good game, but we will go there and try to win.
鈥淢ost of their signings are bringing something new, the style of play, but I can also talk about our new signings, and we are more than happy to have them in our team, and they have adapted really quickly.鈥
While Egypt forward Marmoush, Algeria left-back Ait-Nouri and Cherki are currently injured, keeper Donnarumma has immediately proved his worth with clean sheets in his first two games.
鈥淟ook at Gigio,鈥 said Gvardiol. 鈥淚 know when I made my debut, it wasn鈥檛 that easy to accept everything, the rhythm, the pressure, so I want to congratulate him.
鈥淚 know what he did in the Champions League last season. I鈥檝e never seen someone that big in the goal and he can cover everything.
鈥淗e gives the defense confidence. If we are to achieve things, it鈥檚 not just Erling, it鈥檚 about everyone,鈥 he added. 鈥淲e need to trust each other; it鈥檚 the only way we can fight together. If people make mistakes, we are here to support and push each other. That鈥檚 who we are and that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so special.鈥
Gvardiol鈥檚 return has also helped tighten City鈥檚 defense after a knee injury sidelined him at the Club World Cup, where City were upset 4-3 by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the last 16.
The 23-year-old, who has played at left-back and in central defense, has impressed since his $103 million arrival from RB Leipzig in 2023.
鈥淚f I tell you I want to be at the same level as two years ago, I wouldn鈥檛 be happy,鈥 said Gvardiol. 鈥淓veryone wants to be the best version, but I think I can perform much better than I did in my first year.鈥
