Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not looking at Sunday's clash with Arsenal as a chance to put an early marker in the title race . The champions have the chance to go five points clear of the Gunners, their nearest rivals for the past two seasons, with victory in their Premier League meeting at the Etihad Stadium.
Still, Guardiola believes it is too early to draw long-term conclusions from the game and is more concerned with setting the tone for City's campaign.
Guardiola said: “At an early stage of the season, it is nothing more than the mood for the next games. In terms of ranking, it is not very important. It will be important when we go to London in the second part of the season.
It's so important, but in terms of winning or losing in the Premier League, it's not. After five games, it never matters. But if we don't think Arsenal, with the quality they have, is important, we'd be wrong.
City held off Mikel Arteta's side to win the title by just two points after the race went down to the last game last season.
Yet Guardiola doesn't even plan to mention the impact a potential win would have on the league table on his players.
„Why should I tell them when they know? They see the table, they know it. It's not motivation to get five points after five games. Just play a good game, do what you have to do," Guardiola added.
City have started their latest title defense with four wins from four, while Arsenal have collected 10 points.
Guardiola is awaiting a late fitness test on Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian playmaker was forced off at half-time of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan with a muscle problem.