Tottenham will always be the fierce derby day rival, and Liverpool are comfortably the best team in the world. There’s history with Manchester United and local bragging rights on the cards with Chelsea, but right now beating Manchester City means more to Arsenal fans than anything else.
Pep Guardiola’s side have long been the yardstick, short of which this Arsenal team have twice fallen agonisingly short of. The manifestation of precisely what they have not achieved in the last two years.
City are not at the peak of their powers, it’s true, but the psychological boost of not just toppling the soon-to-be deposed reigning champions, but absolutely battering them, is just what Arsenal need to somehow reign in runaway heirs apparent Liverpool.