- Arsenal are set to welcome Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for a highly anticipated Premier League meeting.
- The Gunners pulled off a 2-2 draw with Man City the last time they faced off, but players and coaches were at odds after the final whistle blew
- Mikel Arteta has responded to a comment made by Erling Haaland following the heated match at the Etihad Stadium.
This weekend, Arsenal will face Manchester City in a highly anticipated Premier League match-up, as these two teams meet once more in a storied rivalry.
The two sides played to a 2-2 tie in a thrilling match in September, with both teams exchanging heated words at the final whistle.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has finally responded to comments from Manchester City star Erling Haaland to "remain humble".
Arteta responds to Haaland
The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City has been escalating for a few years now, and it appears to be reaching its most intense point to date.
Manchester City outpaced Arsenal to the Premier League championship in the last two years. In the previous season, Arsenal faltered in April, giving Pep Guardiola a two-point margin to secure the championship.
In the opening match of the season, Arsenal appeared poised for a notable victory at the Etihad Stadium, only to concede an equalizing goal from John Stones in the 97th minute.
After the final whistle, Haaland told Areta to "stay humble" and had a confrontation with Gabriel Jesus. The Arsenal manager was asked to comment about that remark, which went viral on social media.
"I don't take anything personally; what happens on the pitch is what it is - and since I've been a player - stays on the pitch. It's full of emotions and incidents, and I just leave it behind and move on," he said.
Haaland also threw the ball to Gabriel Magalhaes' head.
The Spanish player emphasized the significance of obtaining a victory against Manchester City, who had beaten Chelsea the previous weekend.
Winning a big match against Manchester City would be a major morale booster for us. Beating a top rival is always something to be proud of. Every encounter with a strong rival carries an extra level of significance - it's a chance to gain confidence, create emotional momentum, and showcase our capabilities, which is exactly what we're aiming for.
"Pep is very happy with the situation, you know he's a person that if he gets the right answers and ideas, he is the first guy that says we are going to win," said Mahrez.
The game tomorrow could significantly impact the teams' chances at claiming the championship title, leading to high stakes in the match.
In the Premier League standings, Arsenal currently occupy the second position, with a six-point gap separating them from the leaders, Liverpool, and a six-point lead over the fourth-placed Manchester City.
Therefore, defeat would be costly for Arsenal, who are pursuing Liverpool. Guardiola was asked if this match will be a grudge match.
"He declined to comment on his relationship with Arteta, his former assistant, calling it "exceptional". "We're not in touch very often because of our business, but there's always respect between us," he explained to MEN.
The Gunners secured a 1-0 victory in this encounter at the Emirates Stadium and Opta's supercomputer has predicted a 46.2% chance of their success.
Arsenal charged by FA
As previously reported, the FA has charged Arsenal with a misconduct charge for failing to effectively manage their players following Myles Lewis-Skelly's contentious dismissal.
If found guilty, the Gunners will face a financial penalty. The red card was withdrawn after an appeal, following widespread criticism.
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