Manchester City are facing Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend, and Paul Merson believes two Gunners stars need to be wary of one man.
Pep Guardiola‘s side have their hardest game of the season on Sunday.
Arsenal have run Manchester City close in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, and many have tipped them to actually get the job done this time around.
But Mikel Arteta’s side have already dropped points in the league and are two points behind their rivals at the moment.
Key to Arsenal getting anything from the game will be how well the two centre-halves play. And Paul Merson has sent them both a warning over Erling Haaland.
Paul Merson fearful of Erling Haaland ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
City had a bit of a frustrating night in the Champions League on Wednesday, as they drew 0-0 with Inter in their first league phase match.
The Italian giants were absolutely solid defensively, and restricted City to only a few good chances in the game.
Haaland, who has been on fire so far this season, didn’t really get much of a look-in against Inter due to the likes of Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi.
So the Norwegian will no doubt be raring to go against Arsenal and get back on the scoresheet.
Paul Merson was previewing the game on Sky Sports News earlier today, and he feels William Saliba and Gabriel will be key fr the visitors.
He said: “Gabriel and Saliba will want to play against someone like Haaland who is going to play right up on them, who’s going to have a battle. He wants a battle, they want a battle, it works nicely for them.
“They’ll have to be for 96 or 97 minutes, alive for every second of that football match. They’ve only got to fall asleep for one second, they’re concentration goes. The crosses are going to be a lot better this weekend than what they were against Tottenham.
“They fall asleep, and Haaland scores and that’s the end of the game.”
Haaland has a battle on his hands vs Arsenal
Haaland’s goalscoring run came to an end in midweek but he will be determined to get back amongst the goals against Arsenal, in what is a huge Premier League fixture.
Last time Arsenal came to the Emirates, Haaland was very well marshalled by Gabriel in particular.
The Brazilian loves a physical battle and will fancy his chances of stopping the City number nine once again.
It will not be easy for £51 million signing Haaland, with Arsenal likely to defend in numbers. If he can escape the clutches of Gabriel, he will likely meet further resistance.
But hopefully Haaland will occupy enough players to create openings for other City players to cause problems.
