WAYNE ROONEY reckons Arsenal are better off trying to exploit Manchester City’s defenders rather than worry about Erling Haaland.
The Manchester United legend doesn’t believe the Gunners have anyone able to individually match Haaland’s “pace and power”.
Erling Haaland has enjoyed a stunning debut campaign with Manchester CityRex
ReutersWayne Rooney has urged Arsenal to focus on their own game rather than worrying about Haaland[/caption]
Haaland has scored 32 goals in 28 Premier League games this season
That’s because star centre-back William Saliba is currently out injured.
Saliba, 22, has not featured for Arsenal since March 16 and it is currently unknown when the French defender will return to action.
The Gunners could be without Saliba when they come up against goal machine Haaland in Wednesday night’s mammoth encounter at the Etihad.
Norwegian sensation Haaland has netted 32 goals in 28 Premier League games this season, and has 48 strikes in 42 outings in all competitions.
But Rooney believes Mikel Arteta’s side must “impose their own game” on City with Saliba currently sidelined by a back problem.
Writing for The Times, Rooney said: “How do they stop Haaland? With William Saliba injured, there’s no prospect of matching his pace and power individually, and the only way is to go out and try to impose their own game.
“City can be vulnerable when you hit them in the transition and you saw it against Bayern Munich, particularly when Leroy Sane should have scored after Bayern won possession and broke on them.
“These are the opportunities you can get against City, and Arsenal have the players to capitalise in a way that Bayern didn’t — the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.”
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Rooney urged the Gunners to get at City’s defenders when the two sides meet on Wednesday night in a potential title decider.
He continued: “Arsenal should focus on how to expose those City defenders rather than focus too much on Haaland.
“The mindset needs to be: nobody thought we’d be here, and now we’re playing for the title – so let’s go and take it.
“If they go with that positive approach, it’ll be a great game. If they sit back and wait? Do that against City and you die a slow death.
“City are exceptional and cannot be contained, so it’s about what they can do in attack themselves, and about having no regrets.”