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Topics: Arsenal, Manchester City, Rodri, Football, Premier League, Erling Haaland
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Arsenal, Manchester City, Rodri, Football, Premier League, Erling Haaland
Rodri has warned Arsenal that Manchester City have the experience needed to remain calm in the Premier League title race.
League leaders Arsenal missed the chance to move eight points clear of City on Saturday after suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat away at Everton, in what was Sean Dyche's first match in charge of the Toffees.
City could cut the gap to just two points if they beat Tottenham away from home on Sunday afternoon.
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Pep Guardiola's side are no strangers to a close title race, having been pushed all the way by Liverpool in several recent campaigns – including last season, when City clinched the title by just one point.
City midfielder Rodri scored in their 3-2 win over Aston Villa on a dramatic final day last season help his side win the title.
The Spain international is confident of City defending their title and insists his teammates will focus on themselves, rather than Arsenal.
"At the end, we have the experience, and we know that this is very normal," he told the club's website.
"We know that there are still 18 games remaining and still a lot of points to play for. We know the level of the league and that every game is a final.
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"Maybe in another situation where the league is not that good, I would say 'OK', but the league is just there, and every game is a final.
"We just keep calm, try to go on our road and don't look too much at our opponents. We will just focus on ourselves."
Rodri says City have a dangerous "weapon" in star striker Erling Haaland, who has scored an incredible 25 goals in just 19 Premier League appearances in his debut season in English football.
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Rodri expects the Norway international to keep up that remarkable scoring record in the second half of the campaign, starting against Tottenham on Sunday.
"In Erling, we feel like we have a weapon to fear the opponents," he added.
"Of course, we have switched different things to the way we used to play before - before we didn't have this weapon and now we have it.
"[Having him] is always a guarantee of scoring goals and I think he can score more than one goal immediately in every game."