Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has insisted that next weekend's meeting with fellow title chasers Manchester City has come at the "perfect" time for his side.

The Gunners suffered just their second Premier League defeat of the campaign on Tuesday night, and their first since the opening weekend, when letting slip a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 against Everton.

Despite potentially seeing the gap on leaders Chelsea extend to nine points by the time they face City next Sunday, Cech is adamant that Arsenal will head to the Etihad Stadium in a confident mood as they look to atone for their rare midweek setback.

"Sometimes I think it's the best... if after a big game you play another big game. You have another chance to win," he told reporters. "It's a kind of six-pointer and I think it's the perfect game for us now."

City can themselves move to within one point of Arsenal this evening if they overcome Watford on home soil, aiming to recover from Saturday's 4-2 defeat to champions Leicester City.