Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has expressed his excitement for the FA Cup fourth round match against Premier League leaders Arsenal later today.
Although the two sides have yet to play in the league, the tie is expected to be captivating, with the Cityzens hoping to unsettle the Gunners in their first matchup of the season.
In an interview with club media, Mahrez confirmed his readiness for the match and the importance of England’s oldest cup competition.
“It is a very good trophy, a very good cup. It is a historic cup in this country. We won it once, and it is something that we want to win more of. We are going to go for it,” the Algerian said.
“I think it will be important to win. It is a challenge against a good team that is first in the league at the moment. They are the best team in the country at the moment. But they are coming to us on Friday, so let’s see what they can offer.”
The 31-year-old is also relishing the chance to play against Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League as they sit five points behind them on the standings.
“I think they have been really good, but we are used to it. Every year we have had a team [pushing us in the league]. It was Liverpool for four or five years, and this year it is Arsenal,” he added.
The Desert Foxes captain has been in a rich vein of form since the return of club football after the World Cup break, with six goals and three assists, including two goals in a man of the match performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
The former Leicester City player is delighted to be in such devastating form, with a goal or assist every 72 minutes of play and 14 chances created from open play.
“I had a few problems before, and I wasn’t performing very well before. Here at big clubs and big teams, they don’t wait. If you are not ready, someone else is going to play and play well,” Mahrez disclosed.
“Since the break, I worked hard during the holidays while everyone was at the World Cup. I came back really good and fresh, and it is good at the moment.”
“I am contributing and helping the team, so I have to keep going,” he concluded.
Manchester City and Arsenal will play at the Etihad Stadium in a face-off between Pep Guardiola and his former assistant Arteta with City hoping to break the FA Cup jinx against the North Londoners.
The Gunners have won their last four FA Cup games against City, and they have gone on to reach the final while ending as champions on three of the four occasions.
