Arteta on Haaland: 'Preventing the source is the best thing to do' | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta spoke about his side's upcoming blockbuster Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday.

Both English teams enjoyed 2-0 wins in the Champions League but have already suffered domestic defeats with the Gunners sitting second in the league ahead of eighth-placed City.

One man who drew the headlines midweek was Erling Haaland, who became the quickest player to score 50 Champions League goals when he netted against Napoli.

The question for Arteta in his pre-match press conference was, inevitably, how to stop the Norwegian: "There are a lot of things that you have to get right. He’s a player who doesn't need much space, much time or situations to generate big chances, especially in and around the box. Sometimes, preventing the source is the best thing to do, and we have to do it again."

The Gunners are known for their defensive solidity under Arteta in recent seasons and the manager will be relying on that again at the weekend.

"It's certainly what we're doing today, and what we have to do on Sunday and the following games. There's still a lot of things we can improve, and we’re very aware, but it's a very big foundation to achieve what we want."

Arteta was also able to give an update on William Saliba with the manager waiting until Saturday to make his decision and while Viktor Gyökeres and Mikel Merino have recovered from injuries there was no update on the progress of Ben White, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard who are all close to a return.

City were off the boil in the Premier League last year compared to the high standards of previous seasons but Arteta thinks they'll be contenders for the title this season: "I think so, without a doubt. Knowing Pep really, and the demands he puts on his players, the mentality they have in the football club, the squad and the players that they have, I think so for sure."