Rooney Names Injured Defender As Only Arsenal Player That Can Stop Haaland

• Arsenal and Manchester City will face off at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday
• The encounter could be a title decider with Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table
• City have two games in hand and will boost their advantage with a win over the Gunners

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has singled out injured French defender as the only Arsenal player that can stop Erling Haaland.

Arsenal and Manchester City will face off in what could be a title decider on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners are five points clear, but the Citizens have two games at hand.

Mikel Arteta's men are having a meltdown at the end of the season, having drawn their last three games against Liverpool, West Ham and relegation-threatened Southampton.

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Picking up just three points from three games, ceding a two-goal lead against Liverpool and West Ham, is not a hallmark of champions and threatens their title pursuit.

Rooney says Arsenal will miss Saliba

French defender William Saliba is evidently missing in the team since he got injured in the game against Sporting CP, when Arsenal were eliminated from the Europa League, according to 90min.

The challenge of stopping marauding striker Erling Haaland is one to always watch out for when playing City. The Norwegian has scored 48 goals in all competitions this season, a record for a Premier League player.

Wayne Rooney has picked Saliba as the only Arsenal defender that can halt the momentum of the former Borussia Dortmund striker, but unfortunately, he is out injured.

‘‘How do they stop Erling 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,’’ Rooney told The Times.

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English defender Rob Holding has been deputising for the France international, and despite not putting a foot wrong yet, he has not stepped up like the former St Etienne defender.

Haaland aims dig at Arsenal

Sports Brief reported that Erling Haaland shared a tweet that appeared to be perfectly timed and aimed a dig at Manchester City's title rivals.

After the 2-2 draw against West Ham, the former Salzburg striker tweeted 'Mood' with a fiery-looking picture and repeated it after the Gunners' 3-3 draw with Southampton with 'Mood. Still.'

Footie fans are convinced he watches Arsenal, and his tweets are directed at the North London habitants.