Arsenal wanted to provoke Manchester City into a war during last weekend's Premier League clash but the champions are ready for the challenge, City manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, dealing a huge blow to their hopes of winning a fifth straight Premier League title.
Sterling marked his maiden Arsenal start following his transfer deadline day move from Chelsea with a second-half strike in the third-round tie at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta stood by Arsenal's defensive tactics in their explosive Premier League clash with Manchester City, saying he would have been "thick" not to learn from previous clashes.
But for much of Pep Guardiola's time in charge of City, it was Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool who were consistently their title rivals.
John Stones' 98th minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester City against 10-man Arsenal in a bad-tempered clash between the two favourites for the Premier League title on Sunday.
Spaniard Raya dived low to his right to beat out Mateo Retegui's spot kick in the 51st minute then sprang across his goal to claw away the forward's follow up header.
Arsenal players are unfazed by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's goal-scoring rampage, midfielder Jorginho said vouching for the Gunners' confidence ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with City.
The Gunners shrugged off the absence of key midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to remain undefeated this season and close within two points of leaders Manchester City.
"Haaland had a knock, he was uncomfortable," said Guardiola
The Gunners dropped what could be two huge points in the title race when Ivan Toney headed in after a scramble inside the Arsenal area
Despite dropping points for the second week in a row Arsenal lead the table by six points from champions Manchester City with both clubs having played the same amount of games.
Moises Caicedo has pleaded with Brighton to accept a club record transfer fee amid interest from Arsenal in the midfielder.
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal need to learn to be ruthless against Manchester City after Nathan Ake's goal earned Pep Guardiola's men a 1-0 win in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday.
Arsenal and Manchester City are in a close battle for the Premier League title this season but the north London club's manager, Mikel Arteta, said that will not affect his friendship with his counterpart Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Thursday said he was well aware of Mikel Arteta's quality long before he led Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, lauding the north London team for keeping faith in his former assistant.
Mikel Arteta insists he will never copy Pep Guardiola's managerial style as the Arsenal boss prepares for the first of three crucial clashes with Manchester City.
Premier League leaders Arsenal signed Poland defender Jakub Kiwior from Italian side Spezia in a deal worth a reported £12 million ($27 million) on Monday.
Arsenal full back Oleksandr Zinchenko said some of his team mates had laughed when he said at the start of the season that the north London club could win the Premier League title, but that the squad has now started to believe it is possible.