Mikel Arteta is not fazed about the galvanising impact Erik ten Hag bringing up refereeing decisions from Arsenal’s victory over Manchester United in September could have on the United players.

In March, after their FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Liverpool, Erik ten Hag bizarrely referenced their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal — which happened back in September.

Ten Hag had said: ‘For instance, at Arsenal, in the fourth game of the season, in the 87th minute, we should have had a penalty on Rasmus Hojlund.

‘Then we scored with (Alejandro) Garnacho, disallowed and then we conceded a goal which should always have been disallowed. Such moments help you. Every team needs such moments, and we never had that moment and this could be that moment.’

The Gunners lead the table by one point, though Manchester City have a game in hand. It leaves Arsenal’s clash against Manchester United this Sunday tantalisingly poised.

When asked whether Ten Hag bringing up the defeat will motivate the Dutchman’s side, Arteta said: ‘I don’t know, I don’t know how they are feeling about this, but we have enough to think about how we are going to beat them and what we have to be to be better than them.’

Ex-Arsenal midifielder Paul Merson compared Man City to a prime Mike Tyson. Arteta is all too aware of the toil.

‘You have to keep improving and try to be better than them when you face them head-to-head and in a long, long season with a lot of demands in this league,’ he said.

‘We know. This league has gone to a different level, something I haven’t seen before in my opinion. But that’s where we are.’

Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu are doubts for Sunday’s match.

Saka was wearing strapping in training on Thursday, while Tomiyasu was absent. Both face fitness tests later today.