Pep Guardiola defends Erling Haaland ahead of Arsenal rematch – ‘It's the defenders that create the problems’

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September's 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal saw the rivalry between the two erstwhile title contenders take on a new edge when striker Erling Haaland told Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to "stay humble". This followed an earlier clash between Haaland and Gabriel Magalhaes. Despite these flash-points, Pep Guardiola has defended Haaland, insisting that the Norwegian has excellent discipline.

‘It’s the defenders that push Erling’ – Guardiola praises Haaland’s temperament

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stepped in to defend Erling Haaland ahead of Sunday's huge Premier League clash with Arsenal.

City striker Haaland told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to "stay humble" following the explosive 2-2 draw back in September.

After the Mancunians had scored a stoppage-time equaliser, Haaland also threw the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes' head.

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Those incidents led to some criticism, and Guardiola was asked about them in the build-up to Sunday's rematch.

The City boss immediately backed his striker.

He said: "It is not easy, the central defenders that push him, and push him and hack him, and kiss him and this kind of thing... at the end he doesn't know maybe how to react."

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Moving on to the specifics of the Arsenal clash, Guardiola added: "Arsenal is a physical team in a good way and in many aspects. What happened at the end for the emotions, that happens. Absolutely, it's done."

Guardiola was asked again about the Norwegian striker's temperament and left no room for doubt in his response.

He said: "Listen, we cannot blame about discipline on Erling, come on, it's the defender that pushes Erling, Erling doesn't push the defender. It's the defenders that create the problems to Erling. He's a striker."

Speaking earlier in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola had been similarly defensive of Haaland.

He said: "I’m surprised how he can control his emotions because with every action he’s pulled and he’s pulled and the referee is always ‘play on’. How many times does it happen? And always he never complains, he controls himself so talking of a reaction on one day is not real. It’s not about what Erling does [did] for one day. He behaves incredibly well."

After a relative fallow period towards the end of last year, Haaland has returned to scoring form in recent weeks, having hit six goals in his last seven matches. He has scored three times in five games against Arsenal.

City travel to North London on Sunday sitting in fourth place, six points behind Arsenal and 15 points off leaders Liverpool.

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