Man City were 'significantly less cooperative' when Arsenal tried to buy one of their players last summer

Manchester City's rivalry with Arsenal hotted up last summer when Mikel Arteta's side tried to buy a star player from the Premier League champions.

On Sunday City and Arsenal will meet at the Etihad Stadium in a top-of-the-table clash, with the Gunners currently a point above Pep Guardiola's side in the standings.

Last season the two clubs developed a rivalry as they vied for the Premier League title, something that seemed unlikely just a few years ago.

From Guardiola's appointment as City boss in 2016 until the start of last season, City won 11 of the 12 meetings between the two sides by an aggregate score of 30-6.

Arsenal simply weren't a threat to City's ambitions in the league and Champions League, and City seemed to realise that.

But here is reportedly a sense at Arsenal that they are now viewed differently by City's club hierarchy and decision-makers.

In 2022, City were happy to directly strengthen Arsenal by selling both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to them for a combined fee of £75 million.

However, City's attitude changed after Arsenal ran them close in the title race last season.

Last summer Arsenal were interested in signing Joao Cancelo, but according to The Telegraph, City were 'significantly less co-operative' as they did not want to directly strengthen Arteta's side again.

Pep Guardiola with Joao Cancelo. Image: Alamy

Despite wanting to sell Cancelo, City instead opted to loan him to Barcelona for the season.

The new rivalry between the two sides has been reflected in several on-field altercations.

Kevin de Bruyne shoved Arteta last season when the former City coach took his time to return the ball, while Phil Foden and Ben White had to be separated after the clash at the Etihad last season.

Whatever happens at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon, it looks like the City and Arsenal rivalry is set to stay.