Mikel Arteta says he has moved on from Erling Haaland dispute

Mikel Arteta said his dispute with Erling Haaland “stays on the pitch” as Arsenal prepare to renew their rivalry with Manchester City at the Emirates.

The last meeting between the sides in September ended in explosive fashion, with Haaland launching a ball at Gabriel’s head before telling Arteta to “stay humble” as players and staff from both sides clashed at the full-time whistle.

But when asked about Haaland’s comment ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture, Arteta said: “I don’t take anything personally with what happens on the pitch.

“Since I have been a player, it stays there. The game’s full of emotions. I just leave it aside and move on.

“The business is to try to be better than them, to beat them, and that’s it.

“The only thing I review is what happened during the match and how competitive it got (at the Etihad) is normal when two big teams want to win the game. There is nothing else to say from that side.”

The aftermath of the 2-2 draw in Manchester followed two seasons of Arsenal finishing runners-up to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team.

Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant at City before he took the Arsenal job in 2019. Both men have been forced to insist their relationship has not changed amid the escalating rivalry between their two sides.

“We wouldn’t be talking on the phone, talking to each other and messaging each other and willing each other to do the best (if the relationship had changed),” continued Arteta. “I was there for four years so I know how competitive they are.”

City’s bid to win a fifth consecutive Premier League crown unravelled following six defeats. However, a win in north London would take them to within three points of the second-placed Gunners.

For Arsenal, they could be as many as nine