The rivalry between a Manchester City bulldozer and Arsenal’s brick wall will be renewed on Sunday | OneFootball

The rivalry between a Manchester City bulldozer and Arsenal’s brick wall will be renewed on Sunday | OneFootball

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·20 September 2025

The rivalry between a Manchester City bulldozer and Arsenal’s brick wall will be renewed on Sunday

Article image:The rivalry between a Manchester City bulldozer and Arsenal’s brick wall will be renewed on Sunday

Manchester City take on Arsenal tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium. The meeting between the two rivals is a special fixture on the Premier League calendar. There is a rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta in the dugout. It is based on respect, but resembles that between a teacher and a student. There are a host of others all over the pitch. Perhaps the most interesting subplot at the Emirates is the rivalry between Erling Haaland and Arsenal centre-back Gabriel. Manchester City’s bulldozer and Arsenal’s brick wall will meet in the renewal of a rivalry that had several talking points last season.

Erling Haaland and Gabriel will renew a rivalry that will set the tone for Sunday’s match.

Last season saw Erling Haaland and Gabriel provide several flashpoints. There was no malice in any of the incidents between the two, but it is clear that they don’t like each other on the pitch. Erling Haaland bounced the ball off Gabriel’s head after John Stones’ late equaliser against Arsenal in the 2-all draw between the teams last September. Gabriel got his own back on Haaland when he screamed in Haaland’s face when his team took an early lead in their 5-1 hammering of City at the Emirates in February. There were other incidents between the pair, but those two do stick out.


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On-pitch rivalries like the one that exists between Erling Haaland and Gabriel are what make a game like tomorrow’s fixture so enticing. Games are always better to watch when there is a level of animosity between the players and teams. It makes the game a must-see event. Manchester City’s bulldozer in Haaland will meet Arsenal’s brick wall in Gabriel. If Haaland can win that battle, he could play a pivotal role in the result at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

Manchester City will be hoping Erling Haaland can fire on Sunday, but Gabriel and the Arsenal defence will be eager to keep him out of the game.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping that Erling Haaland can continue his strong recent form against Arsenal. In his past three matches for club and country, he has scored eight goals. So he enters tomorrow’s match in supreme form. Gabriel and the Arsenal defence will be eager to keep Haaland out of the game. Gabriel won’t be able to do that alone, and Mikel Arteta’s side is a strong defensive unit. It will take a team effort from Arsenal to keep Haaland out of tomorrow’s match. But Gabriel will be eager to win his duels against Haaland when they occur.

Article image:The rivalry between a Manchester City bulldozer and Arsenal’s brick wall will be renewed on Sunday

Manchester City’s bulldozer will square off against Arsenals brickwall at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow. Erling Haaland and Gabriel loom as crucial players in tomorrow’s match. They established a fascinating on-pitch rivalry last season. Whoever can come out on top tomorrow between the pair may lead their team to a precious three points tomorrow.

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