“Why pocketing Haaland was easy’ William Saliba masterclass against allegedly OVERRATED Haaland revealed

Declan Rice worth every penny of £105m transfer fee as William Saliba pockets Erling Haaland
Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester City much thanks to a William Saliba super performance helping to pocket Erling Haaland but David Raya raised questions

William Saliba produced a man of the match display against Manchester City and pocketed Erling Haaland in the process
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: William Saliba and Gabriel of Arsenal celebrate following their sides victory after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on October 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

What an incredible result that is for Arsenal as they come away from a clash with Manchester City three points richer. It might have been a deflected shot which won the game, but no one will care.

To do it without the benefit of Bukayo Saka and other key starters having to come off the bench highlighted the depth in the squad. It was a game that Arsenal had control of for its near-entirety, suffocating the visitors to very few opportunities.

Ensuring top performances across the side and from the bench was imperative to the win. football.london have compiled our list of winners and losers from a famous Emirates Stadium victory.

Winners
Gabriel Martinelli
A hero in Arsenal’s modern history, guaranteed. The Gunners had to win this game to showcase their title credentials and they knew to do it they’d need to survive without star man Bukayo Saka and the aforementioned Martinelli, at least until it was deemed appropriate to bring him off the bench.

Arsenal have suffered in his absence and when Saka was not named in the matchday squad, there was a sense of emotion being sucked out of the match-going fans as it dawned on supporters that neither starting winger would be in the first eleven. But the Brazilian emerged at half-time and was a menace for Kyle Walker, eventually scoring with minutes remaining to win the game.

William Saliba
How Arsenal missed this man at the end of the season, and in particular at the Etihad Stadium. William Saliba did not give Erling Haaland a sniff and the Norwegian was left without a single shot the entire game – in fact, Man City had only four efforts with one on target.

READ MORE: Why Mateo Kovacic wasn’t sent off vs Arsenal after Curtis Jones’ Tottenham vs Liverpool red card

READ MORE: Arsenal vs Manchester City highlights as Gabriel Martinelli downs the champions amid Saka injury

Saliba’s partnership with Gabriel Magalhães is arguably the best in the league now and the pair were so calm when passing around at the back to frustrate the Man City attackers.

Declan Rice
Transformative. That is the single best word that can define what Declan Rice has done for this team as yet another performance proved the difference in a brand-new season.

Manchester City were the side that tried to rival Arsenal for the England international and when Matheus Nunes came off the bench as their central midfield signing, the difference in what the Gunners have invested in compared to the Citizens’ plan B option was night and day.

A goal-line clearance, key interceptions and progressive play. The staple of Rice’s game has been about elevating the control that he can allow the Gunners to impose on his opponents and he proved that against Man City – there are few tougher.

Losers
Bukayo Saka
Although the result shows that the Gunners can indeed win the biggest game of their season without their star boy, how he would have loved to be part of it. It’s not a discussion of the fight he has to get his starting spot back like it might be for others in similar situations, he will return when fit, but to miss the game and then be expected to join the England squad remains to be a farce.

Thankfully, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the winger would not be taking part with the squad over the international break. He needs this break and whether the injury is so serious it legitimately rules him out or not, the right decision has been made – thank goodness.

Leandro Trossard
In a game where opportunity knocked, the player I found myself wanting more from was the Belgian. He had such a strong pre-season and it simply hasn’t continued into the new campaign with that same form, hopefully, it returns.

However, Mikel Arteta revealed that he was removed at half-time not tactically but due to an injury. The hope will be of course it’s not bad and that he, like Saliba, can be saved from international matches.

David Raya
A clean sheet, yes, but there were questionable actions from David Raya in the game. Of course, the collision with Julian Alvarez could have proven horrific had the ball deflected slightly left of the side netting.

The crowd were getting audibly frustrated with the Spaniard’s lack of urgency when on the ball. Aaron Ramsdale would have been just as good, if not better, in some scenarios you feel.

Declan Rice worth every penny of £105m transfer fee as William Saliba pockets Erling Haaland
Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester City much thanks to a William Saliba super performance helping to pocket Erling Haaland but David Raya raised questions

William Saliba produced a man of the match display against Manchester City and pocketed Erling Haaland in the process
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: William Saliba and Gabriel of Arsenal celebrate following their sides victory after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on October 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

What an incredible result that is for Arsenal as they come away from a clash with Manchester City three points richer. It might have been a deflected shot which won the game, but no one will care.

To do it without the benefit of Bukayo Saka and other key starters having to come off the bench highlighted the depth in the squad. It was a game that Arsenal had control of for its near-entirety, suffocating the visitors to very few opportunities.

Ensuring top performances across the side and from the bench was imperative to the win. football.london have compiled our list of winners and losers from a famous Emirates Stadium victory.

Winners
Gabriel Martinelli
A hero in Arsenal’s modern history, guaranteed. The Gunners had to win this game to showcase their title credentials and they knew to do it they’d need to survive without star man Bukayo Saka and the aforementioned Martinelli, at least until it was deemed appropriate to bring him off the bench.

Arsenal have suffered in his absence and when Saka was not named in the matchday squad, there was a sense of emotion being sucked out of the match-going fans as it dawned on supporters that neither starting winger would be in the first eleven. But the Brazilian emerged at half-time and was a menace for Kyle Walker, eventually scoring with minutes remaining to win the game.

William Saliba
How Arsenal missed this man at the end of the season, and in particular at the Etihad Stadium. William Saliba did not give Erling Haaland a sniff and the Norwegian was left without a single shot the entire game – in fact, Man City had only four efforts with one on target.

READ MORE: Why Mateo Kovacic wasn’t sent off vs Arsenal after Curtis Jones’ Tottenham vs Liverpool red card

READ MORE: Arsenal vs Manchester City highlights as Gabriel Martinelli downs the champions amid Saka injury

Saliba’s partnership with Gabriel Magalhães is arguably the best in the league now and the pair were so calm when passing around at the back to frustrate the Man City attackers.

Declan Rice
Transformative. That is the single best word that can define what Declan Rice has done for this team as yet another performance proved the difference in a brand-new season.

Manchester City were the side that tried to rival Arsenal for the England international and when Matheus Nunes came off the bench as their central midfield signing, the difference in what the Gunners have invested in compared to the Citizens’ plan B option was night and day.

A goal-line clearance, key interceptions and progressive play. The staple of Rice’s game has been about elevating the control that he can allow the Gunners to impose on his opponents and he proved that against Man City – there are few tougher.

Losers
Bukayo Saka
Although the result shows that the Gunners can indeed win the biggest game of their season without their star boy, how he would have loved to be part of it. It’s not a discussion of the fight he has to get his starting spot back like it might be for others in similar situations, he will return when fit, but to miss the game and then be expected to join the England squad remains to be a farce.

Thankfully, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the winger would not be taking part with the squad over the international break. He needs this break and whether the injury is so serious it legitimately rules him out or not, the right decision has been made – thank goodness.

Leandro Trossard
In a game where opportunity knocked, the player I found myself wanting more from was the Belgian. He had such a strong pre-season and it simply hasn’t continued into the new campaign with that same form, hopefully, it returns.

However, Mikel Arteta revealed that he was removed at half-time not tactically but due to an injury. The hope will be of course it’s not bad and that he, like Saliba, can be saved from international matches.

David Raya
A clean sheet, yes, but there were questionable actions from David Raya in the game. Of course, the collision with Julian Alvarez could have proven horrific had the ball deflected slightly left of the side netting.

The crowd were getting audibly frustrated with the Spaniard’s lack of urgency when on the ball. Aaron Ramsdale would have been just as good, if not better, in some scenarios you feel.