The international break is in its final stages and the attention will soon turn back to Premier League action with one huge game coming up this weekend – Manchester City v Arsenal.
This meeting at the Etihad Stadium could have a huge impact on where the Premier League title ends up come the end of the season.
Arsenal beat City at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season and will now be looking to repeat the trick on the road.
Pep Guardiola v Mikel Arteta once again, a City side once again seeking to prove their dominance and an Arsenal side looking to show that they have learned and grown since last season.
This should be a blockbuster encounter and fans are already looking forward to it, especially after a lack of club football of late.
You would think that both sets of players are also excited, but one Manchester City player seemingly wasn’t even aware that he will be facing Arsenal in just a few days…
Declan Rice on John Stones
Arsenal star Declan Rice and Manchester City defender John Stones are currently on international duty together with England
The pair will become enemies this weekend but Stones has been left surprised after hearing that he will be lining up against the Gunners.
Rice – who will captain England against Belgium on Tuesday night – told The Mirror that he spoke to Stones on the first day of England training.
Rice was hyping up a ‘big game’ to come for Arsenal, leaving Stones to ask who they would be playing.
Stones had seemingly forgotten that he will be playing against Arsenal, leaving Rice in stitches whilst acknowledging that everybody knows how big the game will be.
Rice believes that Stones switches off from football when he isn’t playing, explaining why he may have forgotten all about Sunday’s huge game.
“The first day I came here I saw John Stones and he didn’t even know they were playing us next! When he’s away from football he likes to be with his family and switch off and I get that,” said Rice.
“He likes to take one game at a time. I said ‘big game next’ and John said ‘who are you playing?’ and I said ‘we’ve got you lot!’ He said ‘oh yeah!’ As lads, we have a bit of banter, but inside us we know what a big game it is going to be. A potential title-decider, it’s going to be really tight,” he added.
It may sound like Stones isn’t focused on Sunday’s game but you can be sure that Guardiola will have his side firing on all cylinders for a potential title decider.
City fell a little flat against Liverpool earlier in March and will be looking to serve up a much better performance in this one.
£47.5million ace Stones is bound to start and Guardiola will be looking for him to turn in a big display – even if had to be reminded about the game itself!
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