EPL: ROONEY IDENTIFIES ONLY ONE ARSENAL PLAYER TO STOP HAALAND AND INSTRUCTS THE GUNNERS ON HOW TO BEAT CITY

As the Gunners prepare for the vital Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, Manchester United veteran Wayne Rooney has revealed the only Arsenal player who can stop Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Haaland has scored 48 goals in all competitions in his first season at Manchester City after signing from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

If Manchester City wins their remaining games, they will surpass Premier League leaders Arsenal and win the 2022-23 Premier League season title.

The encounter on Wednesday is largely viewed as a title decider, and Rooney, Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer, believes the only Arsenal player capable of'matching the pace and strength' of Haaland is now injured.

The former Manchester United and England striker told The Times: "How do they stop Erling Haaland? With William Saliba injured..."

According to the former England striker, the only way Arsenal can beat the title holders is to "go out and try to impose their own game," adding that Pep Guardiola's side "can be vulnerable" when they are "hit in the transition."

"In their victory over Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in midweek, there were a couple of times the Germans posed a serious threat to the Premier League champions and Rooney believes "Arsenal have the players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus," to capitalise on those areas left open by Pep Guardiola side that Bayern could not finish off.

"Arsenal should focus on how to expose those City defenders rather than focus too much on Haaland," the former Everton man added.