William Saliba says Arsenal can afford to lose to Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners head to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for among their toughest tests of the entire season and a game which is expected to prove pivotal to decide who is crowned champions.
It has been almost nine years since the Gunners won away at City in any competition but did beat them in the Community Shield, then at home and held them to a 0-0 draw at the Etihad last season.
And Saliba says a defeat to City will not define Arsenal's season.
"If you win against them but not against others it doesn't mean anything," he told FOX Sports.
"So, of course we want to win this weekend and we will give everything to win but it’s not the end on Sunday."
If Arsenal are to have any hope of beating City, they will have to keep Erling Haaland quiet. The striker has scored nine goals in his opening four games - unsurprisingly a Premier League record.
Saliba said: "He is a great player. One of the best in the world. It is difficult to play against him but last season we gave everything to stop him from scoring and he didn't succeed."
