The problem with that quote, is that they say we'll be getting a sneak peek of the new designs, it doesn't confirm the actual start of a new manga story arc. For all we know, they can do the 2 1/2 year gap thing, and then gives us a new filler arc with the new designs. They did add filler arcs in between events that should have been back to back (Sasuke's hospitalization that leads to him abandoning Konoha, should have been due to his encounter with Itachi, was changed to him fighting that villian with that lightning sword.)
So while we know in mid-February we'll finally get to see the design changes, who knows if we'll be seeing the Sasori-Deidara fight yet...