"They won’t have that this weekend" - Paul Merson sends warning to two Arsenal players ahead of Manchester City clash
Arsenal icon Paul Merson has warned Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of their clash against Manchester City. The two English giants are set to face each other in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium this weekend (September 22).
The Cityzens and the Gunners are recognizably the two best clubs in the Premier League, having come first and second, respectively, for two years running. They have continued their impressive form of the last two seasons once more, as they are the top two in the standings after four games this season.
Neither side have lost a match, with City sitting ahead of their London counterparts with a small two-point gap.
Paul Merson has warned Arsenal defenders Gabriel and Saliba about Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker has already scored nine goals in four Premier League games this season, and he will look to add to that tally on the weekend. Merson said to Sky Sports (via Metro):
"Gabriel and Saliba will want to play against Haaland, someone who is going to go right up against them and wants a battle. He wants a battle, they want a battle and it works nicely for them. It’s when you get players who keep wanting to drop into the No. 10 position and keep coming off the lines and causing Saliba and Gabriel problems of do I go or do I stay?"
"They won’t have that this weekend but they will have to be for 96 or 97 minutes, however long the referee play for, be alive for every second of that football match. They’ve only got to fall asleep for one second and if their concentration goes and the crosses are going to be a lot better than they were against Spurs."
Merson concluded:
"They fall asleep then Haaland scores and that’s the end of the game."
Arsenal will hope they have what it takes to keep Haaland out of the game, having kept clean sheets against their rivals on two occasions last season.
Mikel Arteta speaks about Arsenal's upcoming clash against Atalanta
Before Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, they have a continental clash to get through. The Gunners are currently in Italy, where they are set to face Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium on September 19.
Mikel Arteta has spoken to the press ahead of the UEFA Champions League match, revealing that La Dea would pose a very difficult test. He explained (via Metro):
"It’s very difficult to play against them! They have a particular playing style which you see week-in, week-out and it’s very challenging for opponents coming up against them."
The manager will hope he can lead Arsenal to snatch all three points before they return to England for the weekend's all-important clash.