Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is eagerly looking forward to Sunday's Premier League clash against Manchester City.
Arteta believes City have raised the bar in world football while being led by Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal are at the top of the Premier League table on 64 points with 10 games to go, while holders City are third on 63. Liverpool are second with 64.
A win would end Arsenal's nine-year winless streak at the Etihad while also strengthening their chances of winning the Premier League.
"We've done a lot already to be in the position that we are and now we have to embrace and enjoy the moment and go for it," Arteta told reporters on Friday.
"(City) have raised the bar in this league, I think in football in general, to a level that hadn't been seen before," he added. "And that's the beauty of the sport, that makes you better, that challenges you more and you have to keep up with that pace. And that's what we are trying to do."
The Gunners have bagged wins in their last eight league games while scoring an impressive 33 goals.
Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant at City before taking charge at Arsenal but now their relationship has changed since they are in opposing dugouts.
"It has to change, (but) my admiration for him certainly not," Arteta said of Guardiola. "My opinion is he is the best coach in the world by a mile and he's one of the nicest people I have met in football.
"But our roles at the moment are where they are and it has to adapt to the situation. Probably I would prefer to (beat) somebody else that I don't have those feelings (of friendship), but it is not a choice. We both want to win. We know each other very well and I will prepare the game to win it."
Arteta revealed forwards Saka and Martinelli and centre back Gabriel could feature in the match despite the fact that they have not trained since the team returned from the break.
Saka has an hamstring injury, while Martinelli (foot injury) and Gabriel (Achilles) didn’t play for Brazil.
"There is a chance," Arteta said. "They haven't trained but tomorrow we have another session."
