Wayne Rooney has named the only Arsenal player who could stop Manchester City striker Erling Haaland ahead of a potential title decider at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland has enjoyed a sensational first season at Man City, scoring 48 goals in all competitions and helping Pep Guardiola’s side challenge for a historic treble. Manchester City will overtake Premier League leaders Arsenal and clinch the title if they win their remaining games, while they have advanced to the latter stages of the Champions League and FA Cup. Wednesday night will likely be a decisive moment in the title race as Man City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad and Rooney believes the only Arsenal player who can ‘match the pace and power’ of Haaland is currently out injured. The former Manchester United and England striker told The Times: ‘How do they stop Erling Haaland? With William Saliba injured, there’s no prospect of matching his pace and power individually, and the only way is to go out and try to impose their own game. ‘City can be vulnerable when you hit them in the transition and you saw it against Bayern Munich, particularly when Leroy Sane should have scored after Bayern won possession and broke on them. These are the opportunities you can get against City, and Arsenal have the players to capitalise in a way that Bayern didn’t — the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal, who have not won the Premier League since 2004, have topped the table for much of the campaign but run the risk of imploding during the run-in. Mikel Arteta’s side blew 2-0 leads in successive games against Liverpool and West Ham before dropping more points in a dramatic 3-3 draw with bottom-placed Southampton. Rooney added: ‘Arsenal have surpassed everyone’s expectations to get themselves into a position where if they win their remaining six matches, they will be champions. But drawing their past three games is a serious blow. Recently, I heard Gary Neville say that if, at the start of the season, you offered Arsenal the scenario of “win one game at City and you’ll be favourites to win the league” they’d have taken it. But I think because of what has happened in the past few games, it won’t feel like that. If they’re not champions, they’ll feel like they’ve thrown the title away. Their draw against Liverpool was fine – a point is always a decent result at Anfield – but failing to beat West Ham and Southampton could haunt them. Whatever happens from here, though, I’ve been impressed with them. They’ve had a great season and have some really good young players and the experience of this title race will help those players massively over the seasons to come.’
Wayne Rooney has identified William Saliba as the only Arsenal player who could potentially stop Manchester City striker Erling Haaland ahead of Wednesday’s potential title decider at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland has enjoyed a sensational first season at Man City, scoring 48 goals in all competitions and helping Pep Guardiola’s side challenge for a historic treble. Manchester City will overtake Premier League leaders Arsenal and clinch the title if they win their remaining games, while they have advanced to the latter stages of the Champions League and FA Cup.
The former Manchester United and England striker told The Times: ‘How do they stop Erling Haaland? With William Saliba injured, there’s no prospect of matching his pace and power individually, and the only way is to go out and try to impose their own game. ‘City can be vulnerable when you hit them in the transition and you saw it against Bayern Munich, particularly when Leroy Sane should have scored after Bayern won possession and broke on them. These are the opportunities you can get against City, and Arsenal have the players to capitalise in a way that Bayern didn’t — the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal, who have not won the Premier League since 2004, have topped the table for much of the campaign but run the risk of imploding during the run-in. Mikel Arteta’s side blew 2-0 leads in successive games against Liverpool and West Ham before dropping more points in a dramatic 3-3 draw with bottom-placed Southampton. Rooney added: ‘Arsenal have surpassed everyone’s expectations to get themselves into a position where if they win their remaining six matches, they will be champions. But drawing their past three games is a serious blow. Recently, I heard Gary Neville say that if, at the start of the season, you offered Arsenal the scenario of “win one game at City and you’ll be favourites to win