Mikel Arteta hopes his Arsenal players have moved on from their Erling Haaland grudge ahead of Manchester City's trip to the Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal drew 2-2 at Man CityGabriel clashed with HaalandArteta tells players to forget grudgeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
City striker Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel's head after John Stones' last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad in September. The Norwegian later told Arsenal boss Arteta to "stay humble" but the Spaniard wants his players to be unfazed by something that is "part of the game" when they host the Citizens in a huge Premier League match on Sunday.
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"I really hope so," Arteta replied when asked if his players had moved on from that day. "I think holding anything negative emotionally doesn't help. It's part of the competition, it's part of the game and let's leave it there and let's play a good football match which is what people want to watch."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
This is arguably a must-win game for Arsenal if they want to end their near 21-year wait for a Premier League trophy. They sit nine points behind Liverpool and cannot afford any slip-ups against City, who have pipped them to the title for two seasons in a row. The best way to get back at Haaland and Pep Guardiola's team is to claim three points on Sunday.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Second-placed Arsenal host fourth-positioned City at Emirates Stadium in a 4.30pm kick-off.