Pep Guardiola believes “everyone wants Manchester City to disappear off the earth” as the champions battle against the 115 Premier League charges. City deny all counts and the hearing before an independent commission began last Monday in London.

City host Arsenal in Sunday’s Premier League showdown but rather than answer if Guardiola had ever set up a team for a goalless draw, he instead referred to the legal case. The club deny wrongdoing and insist they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to support their stance.

“I am sorry to say I always want to defend my club – especially in these modern days,” he said. “It’s like everyone doesn’t expect us to be not just relegated, they want us to disappear off the face of the earth.”

“I would say we have had many better days than our opponents – and that’s why we win a lot. It’s not complicated.”

City started the weekend as Premier League leaders, having taken a maximum 12 points from their opening four games, with Arsenal in second, two points behind.  Guardiola is wary of the threat last season’s runners-up pose and wants his side to try to suffocate them.

“If you let Arsenal play, if you accept that, they build up, you allow time to come with [Jurriën] Timber or Alex [Oleksandr Zinchenko] or whatever the player there, to make a structure in the middle, how they move good in the pockets,” he said.

Guardiola is aware the visitors pose other threats. “If you are pressing [then it is] long balls, they win the second balls. In the final third they have the ability to play 1,000 million passes and find the pockets and find the right space. If they can run, they can run. [Gabriel] Martinelli, [Bukayo] Saka, [Martin] Ødegaard and whatever,” said Guardiola, though Ødegaard is out with a long-term injury.

“They are a top team because all the departments that a team needs to be solid, they do it. They are good at that. But we are good, too.”