The Premier League’s top two face off at the Emirates Stadium with Mikel Arteta’s contenders taking on Pep Guardiola’s trainers, while Chelsea are in Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund in Germany
Thomas Partey missed Arsenal’s top of the table Premier League clash against Manchester City with a muscular problem.
The Ghana midfielder has been a key part of the Gunners side which sits in first place but was left out as a precaution as Jorginho came in for his full debut. Takehiro Tomiyasu also returned to the starting line-up in place of Ben White, who dropped to the bench.
Erling Haaland was fit enough to start for the visitors, having been forced off at half-time in Sunday’s win over Aston Villa. The only change made by Pep Guardiola saw Nathan Ake recalled into the defence to replace Aymeric Laporte.
In Dortmund, Chelsea January signings Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix all made their European debuts as Graham Potter handed them starts against Borussia Dortmund.
Ben Chilwell made his first start since early November while Hakim Ziyech returned to the starting line-up and Kalidou Koulibaly replaced Benoit Badiashile, who is ineligible in the competition.
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic handed England midfielder Jude Bellingham the captain’s armband.
Erling Haaland “couldn’t remember” Pep Guardiola instruction during win over Arsenal
Manchester City saw off Arsenal to go top of the Premier League with Erling Haaland scoring their third at the Emirates – but he was at a loss to remember Pep Guardiola’s tactics
Erling Haaland insisted he “couldn’t remember” Pep Guardiola’s half-time tweaks when quizzed on Manchester City’s win at Arsenal.
The champions were able to deliver a dogged performance as they saw off Arsenal 3-1 – the Gunners’ first defeat in the league at the Emirates this term. Haaland and Jack Grealish scored second-half goals after the hosts were the better side in the first 45 minutes.
Guardiola was able to get his players in and regroup at the interval, after Bukayo Saka had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener, and made some tactical tweaks. They clearly didn’t stay with his striker however, who was at a lost to recall them.
Speaking about what Guardiola had said at the break, with the score tied at 1-1, Haaland told Amazon Prime : “Small adjustments at half time from Pep, in the end we have quality and we need to get it from evert single player, which is what we did today.”
When quizzed on the changes, he responded: “I honestly don’t remember, I’m just so happy.”
City were able to show a different side of themselves, seizing on errors from Arsenal as they were unusually limited to just 36 per cent possession. But Haaland wants to see more of that from the champions as they battled to the win.
He added: “I think we have to play a bit more like this (street wise) and that’s exactly what we did today. I’m so proud I have to say, of every single guy.
“We can all agree that Arsenal have been the best team this season so to come to their place and play against them is not easy. But we played an amazing game and got three important games – we’re in it again.”
Erling Haaland helped Man City go top of the Premier League
Haaland’s strike, which came eight minutes from the end, was his 26th strike in the league. That equals the best single-season effort from a City player in the Premier League era, which was Sergio Aguero’s effort in the 2014/15 season. The Norwegian joked he would “try his best” to beat the Argentine’s number.
The striker said on the team’s post-match mood: “It was a very positive, happy celebration after the game and I’m so happy. Of course we won against Arsenal, we needed this one and now we must go on a run because that’s what Man City should do.”
Guardiola has played down the notion that City could now be favourites in the title race: “No, no, they have one game in hand so I still consider they are leaders, we could be eight, nine, 10 points behind two or three weeks ago and now we are there so it’s important, but there are many games to play.”
