Man City focus on Arsenal test as Haaland vows hunger
Metro report Ruben Dias is set to miss City’s showdown with Arsenal through injury, forcing defensive reshuffle. Despite his absence, City’s depth means the title-impacting test remains stern.
City have bid about £17.4m for 18-year-old Palmeiras forward Heittor Vinicius, with a planned Girona loan following the Savinho pathway to La Liga minutes.
Haaland says City are ‘hungry for more’, stresses mindset before Arsenal at the Etihad, plays down Golden Boot, praises ‘amazing’ Antoine Semenyo, and cites the Chelsea win as a boost.
United kept 15-year-old JJ Gabriel despite City’s ‘serious efforts’, with Jason Wilcox key. The U18 top scorer has 20 league goals after United resisted a deregistration move.
City are close to a €15m deal for 18-year-old Troyes winger Mathys Detourbet, who would stay on loan. The versatile dribbler has 2 goals and 6 assists in 29 Ligue 2 games.
MEN’s Bajkowski cools talk that City have ‘won the race’ for Forest’s Elliot Anderson. Two midfield signings are possible in summer, with Sandro Tonali mentioned as an option as City plan post-Silva.
Arsenal blog reflects on near-misses and urges balance before facing Manchester City, noting the title race will not be decided solely at the Etihad with several games left.
Girona loanee Vitor Reis, 20, with 29 games and 91% passing, wants a first-team City role in 2026/27 as defensive changes loom and Ruben Dias is sidelined for Arsenal.
Predicted City XI vs Arsenal: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland. O’Reilly fit, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol out.
South Western Railway add extra direct services to London for Southampton’s FA Cup semi-final vs Manchester City at Wembley, easing travel after planned engineering works.
Haaland hails departing captain Bernardo Silva, saying ‘everything comes to an end’, and urges new signings to take responsibility as City chase trophies and face Arsenal in a title-shaping clash.
January signing Marc Guehi has steadied City’s defence amid injuries, formed a calm partnership with Abdukodir Khusanov and says the Carabao Cup win over Arsenal has given confidence.
Guardiola warns of Arsenal’s strengths, calling David Raya ‘extraordinary’ with long balls and praising Havertz and Gyokeres on second balls, pressing and set-pieces before the Etihad clash.
Semenyo jokes Bernardo Silva gets ‘bullied’ over casual outfits as the captain nears exit. The £64m January signing has 8 goals and 3 assists, easing Haaland’s burden ahead of the Arsenal clash.
Report claims John Stones will leave City when his deal expires in June. After fitness issues, a send-off is expected before Aston Villa. City rebuild continues after January moves for Guehi and Semenyo.
