Gabriel relishing chance to face in-form Erling Haaland in early title clash

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel is anticipating the challenge of going head-to-head with Erling Haaland when the Gunners take on Manchester City in a huge Premier League clash this Sunday.

The Brazilian defender and the Norwegian striker have clashed in the past, with their fiery battles becoming a storyline of their rivalry. Both players provided plenty of fireworks in previous meetings, with tempers flaring in both encounters last season.

Haaland, fresh off seven goals in a week for club and country, is now expected to face a tough test on Sunday, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Gabriel is relishing to chance to face off with the Norwegian.

Erling Haaland celebrates scoring for Manchester City during the week. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

“It’s his qualities,” Arteta said of Gabriel. “One of them is that he can get up to anybody in the world. He’s someone that really enjoys the defensive part, the contact, the physicality. When the game has to get to that part, he enjoys it. That’s a big quality to have and it’s very needed with someone like him [Haaland] as well, who is so physical. You need to have those qualities to be efficient. I think it’s efficiency, the word that you want to use with defenders. In relation to the quality of your opponent, how you’re going to adapt your qualities to resolve a lot of situations. If you don’t have to have any contact and it’s not needed, even better. But Gabi has both, I think.”

Haaland’s form in the past few days will serve as a huge worry to the Arsenal camp. The Norwegian has five goals in four league matches and looks sharper than ever, with Pep Guardiola even suggesting he is at a new peak.

For Arsenal, Gabriel’s dominant display in all matches this season proves that still have themselves one of the best centre-back in the world.

The battle between both players could define the contest at the Emirates and send an early signal of their credentials. Victory for either side would be a significant boost in the early stages of the title race.