Sol Campbell has explained what Arsenal need to do to stop Erling Haaland this weekend. The 25-year-old striker will be looking to exact his revenge on Myles Lewis-Skelly when the Gunners host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Haaland, who has found the net in each of his last two clashes against Arsenal, was the butt of the joke when the two sides last met in the Premier League. Back in February 2025, tempers flared when the north London outfit stormed past the then-reigning champions.
After giving Arsenal a two-goal lead, Lewis-Skelly performed the Norway international's signature 'meditation' celebration. The 18-year-old defender was thought to be taking a dig at Haaland, who had told Mikel Arteta to 'stay humble' when Arsenal and City drew 2-2 earlier in the season.
The two title contenders now meet again in what is expected to be a fiery encounter. If the Gunners are to extend their five-game unbeaten streak against Guardiola's side, they'll need to intercept the supply line to Haaland.
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In an interview with Paddy Power, Campbell outlined exactly what Arsenal need to do to stop the Norwegian. The Gunners legend urged Arteta to watch back the Manchester Derby.
"It's all about making sure you reduce the space, reduce and cover the space behind," said Campbell. "If you've got him running and the ball slipped down the sides, you don't really want that.
"You want to cut him off. Even if you don't cut it off at the source, but you cut the wrong and the pass. That's it. If you have him in front of you, make sure he's not lurking in the back post when there's crosses and things like that.
"Just cover, just be clever. Cover the key areas he operates in and that he likes to attack. I think once you do that, once you make sure those balls down the line are not slipped down for him to gallop, it is more controllable.
"You want to keep him in front of you, control that zone he wants to be in. As long as you do the right things and don’t try to be too clever with the offside trap, you have a chance. And if he makes a run, go with the run.
"As soon as you switch off and that green ocean behind you is vacant, you are in trouble. Sometimes he gets into those positions too easy. That’s how he got one of his goals against Man United last weekend."
Campbell added: "He's definitely a great goal scorer, he’s got great physicality, he’s a great penalty taker. He can move as well; he’s no slouch. He’s top five in the Premier League era with all the goals he scored, I would say.
"He’s an old-fashioned centre forward. I would love to be able to play against these guys because it just conjures up all sorts of scenarios that you have to accomplish, and if you can nullify, that's even better.
"I used to love playing against the top forwards and all different shapes and sizes because they're going to come with different abilities to test you. Some are quick, some are strong, some have both, some are skilful, some are great with left foot, right foot, whatever, some like near post, sometimes back post.
"That's the beautiful thing about the Premier League and you come against the best players in the world week in, week out."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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