'Stay humble, bro.'
The infamous words to Mikel Arteta after a hot-tempered clash at the Etihad earlier this season from Erling Haaland have taken a life of their own and followed Manchester City for months.
Of course they were. Arsenal were involved.
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In that game, City got a late equaliser before their winter crisis, having played 53 minutes with a man more following Leandro Trossard's red card.
Trossard was sent off for two clear bookable offences - pulling back Savinho and kicking a ball away after the whistle had gone - but Arsenal were nonetheless incensed. Stones and Bernardo Silva accused the Gunners of 'dark arts' and not wanting to play football in their attempts to slow the second half down and preserve their lead with a man disadvantage.
That game also saw calls for Haaland to be punished for throwing the ball at Gabriel Maghalaes' head after Stones' equaliser shortly before his run-in with Arteta. There was a football game that day, yet nobody was talking about football afterwards.
Expect Sunday's reunion to be another fiery one, just like most meetings between these sides have become. They are no longer title rivals this season, but there is plenty at stake and pride may become the top motivator this weekend in the absence of a title race.
Depending on who you ask, that could be dangerous or brilliant. Or both.
Arsenal are still reeling from Miles Lewis-Skelly's red card last week, which didn't affect the result and was overturned, but has been sensationally (and surely incorrectly) dubbed the worst refereeing decision in Premier League history.
Anyone remember Ben Thatcher's yellow card vs Pedro Mendes? Or the disallowed Liverpool goal at Tottenham last season because VAR misheard the referee? Or Roy Carroll's clearance from behind his own line? Or countless other examples of referees making genuine errors.
The reversal of Lewis-Skelly's red card was correct, but the hysteria has been embarrassing given replays show the youngster's studs made contact with his opponent's ankle. Just like the overblown reaction to Trossard's red card, the conspiracy theories have taken over to incredible levels.
City will not be surprised at the reaction to any decision that goes against Arsenal because they have seen it first hand. Maybe they can use it to their advantage at the Emirates.
After the Etihad draw, those dark arts comments and Bernardo's reference to Arsenal's inferior trophy record suggests City have an idea of how to get into the Gunners' heads.
But City also know that they are not in any position to be winding up Arteta's men given their place in the Premier League table. Bernardo's title jibes won't wash this time, and City must do their talking on the pitch.
"It's what we have to do now," said Manu Akanji this week, discussing the need to grind out wins if performances aren't perfect. "Go match by match, game by game, we have Arsenal next. It's an important game, away, it won't be easy."
There have been feisty meetings between these sides, from last season's defeat at the Emirates, Rodri's New Year's Day winner in injury time, to the 2023 Community Shield that Arsenal celebrated like a league title.
When Guardiola was asked if this fixture carries any more needle following the Etihad clash this season, he simply replied: 'no'. When Arteta was asked the same, he gave the same one word answer.
It is never dull when these sides do battle, and the drama doesn't end with the referee's whistle. Sunday will be no different. Maybe the gloves will truly come off without a title on the line.
But for that same reason, City cannot use their title record to get under Arsenal's skin. They will have to, as Bernardo put it, go there to play football. Or maybe even take Haaland's advice and stay humble.
And if Arsenal get just one decision going against them they could do City's job for them when it comes to turning up the temperature on an afternoon where cool heads will surely be key to three points.
