Erling Haaland has complimented Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for the "impressive" work he's done at the Emirates.
The Manchester City star, 22, is due to face-off against Arteta's side on Wednesday in a finely-poised top-of-the-table clash, after overcoming an injury scare and making the journey to North London along with the rest of Pep Guardiola 's squad. Haaland, scorer of 25 Premier League goals in his debut campaign, will be aiming to bump his team up to first place and leapfrog high-flying Arsenal.
The Gunners, who finished fifth last season and eighth the two previous years, currently sit top of the league with one game in hand on City, as the two leading title contenders meet for the first time this term in a rearranged fixture. Arsenal have wobbled of late, failing to win any of their last three games, but Haaland is still full of praise for Arteta.
Asked by Premier League legend Alan Shearer, for Prime Video Sport, what he thinks of the Gunners, the Norwegian striker replied: "They've been good. When I look at the games it's like I see City four years ago. In a lot of different things they are good. It's been really impressive what Arteta's been doing in the last couple of years and how he's been developing the team together.
"It's impressive and Arsenal belong at the top. It's gonna be a really interesting game now on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to it.
Haaland's manager, Guardiola, is in full agreement, too. The ex- Barcelona boss had Arteta as part of his coaching staff at City for two-and-a-half seasons, before the Spaniard - still only 40 - fled the nest and took the hot seat at former club Arsenal in December 2019.
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"Mikel and I worked together for three years," Guardiola explained in November. "He was taught since he was born. Maybe I learned more off him than he did off me when we worked together. Arsenal have the work ethic, the talent, the support. In the bad moment in the beginning, Mikel had the support in the decisions unconditionally.
"People see how he works every day, the commitment. He's patient, all the managers want time to build something. Arsenal gave it to him, and the rest is the position they have.
"We have made an incredible season, they have been better. We want to be there as close as possible to them, the season is so long. Many things will happen, many tough games."
"For sure they are contenders (for the title) compared to previous seasons. They are not the only ones who last season were not a contender to win the Premier League that this season will be," he added, seemingly referencing Manchester United 's progress under Erik ten Hag.
