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Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has strongly refuted claims made by Manchester City's Rodri regarding the Gunners' approach to last season's pivotal clash between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium.
In a recent interview (via Express UK), Saka clarified that Arsenal never intended to settle for a draw, contrary to what the Spanish midfielder suggested.
Rodri had earlier implied that Arteta's side lacked the desire to win in the crucial tie last March, which ended as a 0-0 draw and significantly impacted the Premier League title race.
"When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said: 'Ah, these guys, they don't want to beat us, they just want a draw'. And that mentality, I don't think we would do it the same way," Rodri stated to Optus Sport in May.
"And we caught them. At the end, if you give us one point, we will win the last seven, eight games even though it's so tough. So I think it comes down to mentality."
However, Saka firmly rejected this notion, and addressing Rodri’s comments directly, the Arsenal talisman said:
"To be honest, I dont really care [about Rodri's comments]. We know what we believed, we know what we went there to achieve. Only we know the real truth. We went there to win and we are going to do that again this Sunday."
As the London powerhouse prepares for their upcoming clash against Manchester City, the heated exchange off the pitch between Bukayo Saka and Rodri emphasizes the growing tension between the two Premier League title contenders. Neither are happy giving an inch of space, but the Gunners will arguably be more eager to prove their doubters wrong.
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne could still feature in the all-important clash against Arsenal
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted that Kevin De Bruyne could still play a part in Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League clash against Arsenal. The midfielder picked up an injury in midweek.
Speaking at a press conference (via ESPN) on Friday, Guardiola said De Bruyne's condition was improving, but his involvement remains undecided.
"He feels a little better today... Tomorrow we train, and we will see. He could be [involved]," the City boss revealed.
De Bruyne was forced off at halftime during City’s 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on Wednesday (September 18). The Belgium international sustained an injury after chasing a through ball from teammate Jack Grealish late in the first half. His potential absence could be a significant blow for Guardiola’s side as they prepare to face their title rivals.
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also addressed injury concerns regarding captain Martin Odegaard, who is dealing with an ankle problem.
"We need to see how the ankle reacts, and the staff will give me an update on the timeframe and how long he’ll be out for," Arteta said (via the club's official website).
