Bukayo Saka says Arsenal are focused on Sunday’s game against Manchester City, after City midfielder Rodri accused them of parking the bus at the Etihad last season.
The Gunners held the eventual Champions to a draw last season, in a game most fans and pundits considered boring as the two teams were in the middle of an intense title race.
After City won the league, Rodri was vocal about the trophy win, calling out Arsenal for not having a winning mentality on the day.
Arsenal have had a tough week, they were able to defeat Spurs in the North London derby and escaped Italy with a draw in the champions league midweek. Their resilience in Thursday night’s game frustrated Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who accused the Gunners of playing for a draw.
What Rodri said about Arsenal
Arsenal took four points of the eventual title winners, and were one of the only teams to do so over the course of the season. The Manchester City midfielder criticized Arsenal for not showing ‘winning mentality’ at the Etihad:
“When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said: ‘Ah, these guys, they don’t want to beat us, they just want a draw’. And that mentality, I don’t think we would do it the same way.
“And we caught them. At the end, if you give us one point, we will win the last seven, eight games even though it’s so tough. So I think it comes down to mentality.”
Bukayo Saka fully focused on Sunday’s game against Manchester City
Saka has had a brilliant start to the season, becoming the first ever Arsenal player to provide an assist in each of the first four games of the season. Ahead of Sunday’s game, the winger is adamant the Gunners will go to the Etihad to win:
“This Sunday we will be going there to win as well. That is our focus.”
When asked about Rodri’s comments this is what the England international had to say:
“To be honest, I dont really care [about Rodri’s comments]. We know what we believed, we know what we went there to achieve.
“Only we know the real truth. We went there to win and we are going to do that again this Sunday.”
Arsenal go into Sunday’s game just two points off the league leaders. Mikel Arteta has already showed he is ready to win on Sunday; saying the Gunners have ‘something to prove’ this season.
