Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his side to make the most of an “incredible opportunity” when they travel to the Etihad Stadium in a top of the table clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.

The Gunners are five points ahead of second-place City, but the reigning champions have played two more games.

Pep Guardiola’s team would control the title if they didn’t beat City on the road for the first time since 2015.

Arsenal has drawn its last three league games, which raises questions about whether a young team can win the Premier League for the first time in 19 years.

“It is going to be a tough night and challenge, yes, but the opportunity is incredible for us,” Arteta said.

“We knew from the beginning — you want to win a Premier League, you have to go to Spurs and you have to beat them, you have to go to Chelsea and you have to beat them.

“This is what we have been doing, that is why we are here and now we have to go to City and we have to beat them — you want to be champion, you have to win these matches, it is as simple as that.”

William Saliba, a French defender, has shown “no improvement” in his recovery from a back injury, so Arsenal will be without him again. Mikel Arteta also said that Granit Xhaka might not be able to play at the Etihad Stadium.

The captain of Switzerland didn’t play in Friday’s 3-3 tie with struggling Southampton because he was sick and hasn’t been back to training yet.