Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney has said Arsenal can beat Manchester City if they capitalise on the weaknesses of the champion.
He warned Arsenal players against focusing on Erling Haaland as the Gunners prepare for the crucial Premier League encounter with Manchester City at the Etihad stadium on Wednesday.
Haaland has been exceptional since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer and has netted 48 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club.
Manchester City will overtake Premier League leaders Arsenal and win the 2022-23 Premier League season title if they win their remaining games.
The game on Wednesday has been widely touted as the title decider and Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time goalscorer, 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…”
According to the former England striker, the only way Arsenal can beat the title holders is to “go out and try to impose their own game,” adding that Pep Guardiola’s side “can be vulnerable” when they are “hit in the transition.”
“In their victory over Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in midweek, there were a couple of times the Germans posed a serious threat to the Premier League champions and Rooney believes “Arsenal have the players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus,” to capitalise on those areas left open by Pep Guardiola side that Bayern could not finish off.
“Arsenal should focus on how to expose those City defenders rather than focus too much on Haaland,” the former Everton man added.
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