Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola don yarn say e dey enjoy watch Arsenal play because e fit learn plenty things from dem. The Gunners dey compete for Premier League and Champions League double, dem dey top table with six points ahead and get European semi-final against Atletico Madrid. But Arsenal style of play under manager Mikel Arteta don dey collect criticism, as dem score 37% of their 62 league goals from set-pieces this season and just two goals from open play for their last five games.
Arsenal go travel go second-place City for Etihad Stadium this Sunday for big match wey go start 16:30 BST. If Arsenal manage avoid defeat, dem go dey close to win their first title for more than twenty years. Guardiola talk say, “Yes. People dey too demanding. From media, supporters, everybody. I enjoy watch dem. I learn plenty things. Wetin people want na to win and we go fight.”
Guardiola add say one important thing wey City no fit fight against na Arsenal wey no win Premier League for 22 years. “Dem get something wey make dem unique. I know that feeling when we reach here. For long time we no win Premier League. Manuel Pellegrini and Roberto Mancini do am but for our era I go talk say, I know how you feel that first win. That na something we no fit play against, na why we must focus on how we suppose play.”
Arsenal open door for City last weekend after dem collect shock home defeat from Bournemouth. Guardiola side use that chance collect statement victory at Chelsea. The results make Arsenal chance to lift trophy drop from 97% to 87% with City own improve from 3% to 13%, according to statisticians Opta.
The two teams draw for Emirates Stadium last September but City dey enter this game with psychological advantage after dem beat Arsenal 2-0 for Wembley Stadium win Carabao Cup last month. Guardiola talk say title race go “over” with six games remain for City if dem lose on Sunday but still get “many things to do.”
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland talk say e no dey feel pressure ahead of potential title decider with Arsenal because him team get “nothing to lose” after dem dey play catch-up for most of season. City dey enter crunch game knowing say seven wins from seven remaining games go almost certainly return Premier League trophy to Etihad after one year sabbatical for Liverpool.
Haaland wey normally dey score plenty goals but net just once for him previous five league matches play down expectation say City go keep their remarkable consistency for final weeks of season to overturn Arsenal six-point lead. “Right now, I dey quite calm,” Haaland tell Sky Sports from club Etihad Campus training ground. “Na one game per week, wey no dey usual for us. E barely happen. Honestly, I no feel plenty nerves or anything, because we don dey chase all season and we get nothing to lose, so I no get any pressure.”
Haaland talk say, “You go ask Arsenal if dem dey feel pressure. I no fit talk about dem. I fit talk about myself, mostly. With myself, I no feel loads of pressure, because we still dey far behind.” If Haaland wan break him four-game league duck, e go need get better of Arsenal defensive duo Gabriel and William Saliba, something wey e fail do for City 1-1 draw at Emirates earlier this season.
Haaland get five goals for 10 appearances against Gunners during him time at Etihad but e go need work hard find space against arguably best central-defensive partnership for Premier League. Haaland talk say, “E dey always fight. Dem normally get loads of players around me, wey na good thing for me. That mean e na good thing. E no easy play against many players around me, but e dey always nice fight. E dey always good, as I talk before, to play against the best, because na something you want do.”
City shake off pressure of knowing say title dey almost for their own hands last weekend after nervous first half at Chelsea. Dem re-emerge after interval score three goals for 17 minutes run out comfortable 3-0 winners at Stamford Bridge. That follow Arsenal surprise home defeat to Bournemouth 24 hours earlier, wey Haaland talk say don turn every one of club final eight games into cup final.
“E dey like final, like last weekend was against Chelsea, e be final as well,” Haaland talk. “Make we talk truth say that, and we get final every single weekend now for next six weeks. E na massive game, e probably na biggest and best game wey go dey, so hopefully e fit be amazing game. We all know that, we all know importance of this game.”
For end of that Chelsea game, Haaland push young defender Abdukodir Khusanov to front of City celebrations make e receive him own applause from away support for west London. The 22-year-old enjoy mighty impressive season after initially take some time find him feet at club, and e look likely start eighth league game out of last 12 against Gunners this weekend.
Haaland himself na only three years Khusanov senior but talk say him actions at Stamford Bridge come from growing leadership role within City squad, given him relative experience for game. “I think of moment with Khusanov, because Khusanov don be amazing for us,” Haaland talk. “E no easy for him, move to new country, no speak language, e hard and everything. With pressure and being first ever from Uzbekistan to play for Premier League and everything.”
Haaland add, “I dey talk like I be 35, I no be, I be 25. I get plenty experience, I don dey play lots of football, so I know how e dey for lots of different situations. E dey about help others, because I know how dem dey and things fit dey hard sometimes. E dey about try make dem comfortable.”
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