Kolo Toure outlined the one tactic Arsenal can employ to stop Manchester City's Erling Haaland.
While Arsenal head into Wednesday’s showdown with City five points clear at the Premier League summit, they have played two games more than their title challengers.
Mikel Arteta’s men are stuttering after three consecutive draws, but know that should they claim a victory at the Etihad they will likely go on to be crowned champions for the first time in 19 years.
To beat City Arsenal would need to keep the Premier League top scorer Haaland quiet. The Norway international has been a revelation this term, having scored 32 goals in 28 league games.
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And former Arsenal and City centre-back Toure explained how Arsenal need to play to stop the 22-year-old from netting on Wednesday.
Toure on Haaland
Toure told SPORTbible Arsenal would need to defend as a collective to stop Haaland from scoring.
The 42-year-old, who was a member of Arsenal’s famous Invincibles team, said: “Haaland’s scary. He’s the top scorer. He can score from any area of the box.
“I think [you need] teamwork against him. Everyone has to be switched on. The back four and the midfield have to be aware of him because he’s putting himself in different positions in the box.
“He can score from headers, he can score from tap-ins, and he can shoot. He has so much quality. It’s very hard.
“The only thing you can do to stop him is [ensure the] squad is focused. Every time he goes to a position there needs to be someone marking him.
“Because you can’t just get one player man marking him on the pitch as that’s impossible. As a team, you can do it.”
Toure on Arsenal and City career
Toure made 326 appearances for Arsenal before moving to City in 2009, where he spent four years.
When asked to compare his time at Arsenal and City, Toure said: “They were different stages of my career. I think I had a lot of joy at Arsenal because I was young and was playing a lot of football.
“And Man City I had some ups and downs I would say. I had a great time at Arsenal.
"I think I had a great time in both areas. Of course, I was an Invincible with Arsenal and that is always the highlight, but I won trophies with both teams.
“I played a lot of games with Arsenal, to be honest.
“But I just want the best team to win [on Wednesday] because they’re both teams that I carry in my heart, and at the same time I have great relationships with the fans and I love the way they play football.”
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Topics: Football, Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Arsenal, Premier League
Chris Byfield