“If you’re not well when you come back, I’ll come after you.”

This was Pep Guardiola’s warning to his Manchester City players when they left for international duty, according to Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian claims the City boss was joking. And although four of them returned with knocks, police have received no reports of a bald, 53-year-old Catalan acting suspiciously.

Even so, to deep-thinking Pep-watchers, it betrays a concern about the fragility of his squad before a potentially pivotal game in the title race.

Arsenal go to The Etihad on Sunday for another blockbuster episode in this three-horse thriller.

With these two and Liverpool separated by one point, it is hard to spot a winner.

History and City’s timing of their finishing sprint tell you it will be them, but there’s also a sense they are not the force of last season.

Nor will all the wounded make their customary Lazarus-like comebacks after sitting out the break.

Key man Kevin de Bruyne should feature but Ederson and Jack Grealish, who has been a forgotten man this season, may not.

Nor will John Stones, who limped out of England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium after 10 minutes.

Kyle Walker, who tweaked a hamstring against Brazil, is doubtful.

The absence of Ederson, who injured himself in conceding a penalty against Liverpool, could be the most telling.

There’s a huge gulf in class and experience between the Brazilian No 1 and his uncapped German stand-in, Stefan Ortega.

A free transfer signing, the 31-year-old has never been close to the German national team, but has yet to let City down.

It’s fair to say, though, that he’s not what Caominh Kelleher is to Liverpool’s Alison or even Aaron Ramsdale to Arsenal’s David Raya.

Ortega is likely to be tested by high-scoring Arsenal who, even without an out-and-out goal poacher, have managed to rack up 70 goals, the highest in the EPL.

If City have a hint of weakness between the posts, they have been less than their usual iron-clad selves in front of them.

The long ball over the top – prehistoric stuff by Guardiola’s post-modern standards – has exploited a lack of pace in the centre of the City defence.

And if the still-electric Walker is not there to cover, it is sure to be a tactic that Arsenal will use.

Josko Gvardiol has yet to make the impact expected and is another signing that makes you wonder if the previous guy was better.

In this case, Aymeric Laporte was a relatively unsung stalwart at the back in an all-conquering side.

Others that Pep let go of were Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Cole Palmer, replaced respectively by Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic and Mattheus Nunes.

No real improvement and maybe even a slight, collective downgrade.

To be fair, the Catalan tried everything to keep Gundogan but the ex-skipper wanted to fulfil his dream of playing for Barcelona.

And despite having Haaland, City still miss Gundo’s goals.

Arsenal also have their injury worries with wingers, to use an ancient term, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, having skipped playing for their countries.

But both are expected to feature as will Gabriel Jesus, another who Pep felt was surplus to requirements.

But perhaps the biggest loss was Mikel Arteta, who was Pep’s dutiful assistant for three years before taking the Arsenal job.

Once billed as the master vs the apprentice, this tussle has moved on as Arteta has rejuvenated the Gunners.

Pep even said: “People say he was with me and learned a lot. But I learned a lot from him.”

This fixture last season was where Arteta had his harshest lesson: it was a 4-1 mauling that effectively clinched the title.

Arsenal went into it after three successive draws but City just swept them aside to leave their title hopes in tatters.

But after being overwhelmed, the Gunners overhauled.

They acquired the imperious defensive midfielder Declan Rice for £110m and Kai Havertz, who is finally beginning to deliver on his £65m price tag, up front.

Their third major addition, Jurrien Timber (a £38m defender from Ajax) damaged his ACL back in August and is only now about to resume full training.

Besides being more evenly matched in personnel, this time the teams are both in form, having almost identical records over the last seven games.

City have won six and drawn one in all competitions while the Gunners have won six and lost one.

With little to choose between their remaining fixtures, this season’s trophy is likely to be decided by small margins.

Unlike the relegation battle, hopefully, it will be done on the field.

If City win convincingly, it will be hard to see them not making it four in a row, not forgetting Liverpool who have marginally the easier run-in.

But if Arsenal come away with a result, it would give them the confidence to go on and end their own trophy drought.

A draw would suit Liverpool’s hopes of giving Jurgen Klopp a fitting farewell.

The possibilities are endless and the suspicion is there will be more twists and turns before it’s over.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.