{"id":2457,"date":"2026-04-13T10:54:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T10:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2457"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:54:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T10:54:17","slug":"wayne-rooney-tells-arsenal-they-will-have-to-play-dirty-in-order-to-beat-man-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2457","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Rooney tells Arsenal they will have to &#8216;play dirty&#8217; in order to beat Man City"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_b6bb55\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal know that defeat away at Manchester City next weekend will blow the Premier League title race wide open and Wayne Rooney has had his say on the big match<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37003786\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wayne Rooney speaking on a podcast\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003786.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-13-at-093637.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003786.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-13-at-093637.png 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003786.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-13-at-093637.png 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003786.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Screenshot-2026-04-13-at-093637.png 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Wayne Rooney thinks Manchester City have the edge over Arsenal ahead of their meeting on Sunday\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Wayne Rooney thinks Manchester City have the edge over Arsenal ahead of their meeting on Sunday<cite aria-label=\"Image: BBC\/The Wayne Rooney Show\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: BBC\/The Wayne Rooney Show)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wayne Rooney has urged <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/teams\/arsenal\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Arsenal<\/a> to &#8220;play dirty&#8221; in their seismic title decider at Manchester City on Sunday after claiming that Pep Guardiola and Co will have the mental edge over their rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Premier League&#8217;s top two will meet in a mouthwatering encounter at The Etihad on Sunday, with City knowing that victory would cut the gap between them and Arsenal to just three points ahead of their game in hand on the Gunners. Momentum is with them, too, after they swatted Chelsea aside on Sunday, barely 24 hours after Arsenal were stunned on their own patch by Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta has guided Arsenal to three successive second place finishes in the Premier League, twice missing out on the title to City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But with concerns over their ability to see the job through growing in the wake of their sizeable lead at the Premier League summit evaporating, Rooney says City have the psychological edge going into the weekend.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_020eaf\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Rio Ferdinand sends Arsenal chilling warning ahead of Man City clash<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_020eaf\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Luton boss Jack Wilshere wins first trophy as manager with EFL Trophy final triumph<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I think City will have the edge on that (<!-- -->psychologically)<!-- -->just purely the manager and players they&#8217;ve got. They will be able to stay a little calmer than the Arsenal players,&#8221; he said on <a aria-label=\"The Wayne Rooney ShowLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/iplayer\/episode\/m002tgb1\/the-wayne-rooney-show-artetas-arsenal-under-pressure-and-peps-city-closing-in\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">The Wayne Rooney Show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;They will be worried because when you go on a run and lose a few games, you start thinking &#8216;where&#8217;s the next goal, the next win going to come from?&#8217; That negative mindset really has an impact on your performance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37003440\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37003440\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.57\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Erling Haaland and Ryan Cherki celebrate\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003440.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Chelsea-v-Manchester-City-Premier-League.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003440.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Chelsea-v-Manchester-City-Premier-League.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003440.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Chelsea-v-Manchester-City-Premier-League.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37003440.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Chelsea-v-Manchester-City-Premier-League.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Manchester City beat Chelsea on Sunday to cut the gap on Arsenal\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Manchester City beat Chelsea on Sunday to cut the gap on Arsenal<cite aria-label=\"Image: Ryan Pierse, Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Ryan Pierse, Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal were beaten by Manchester City a fortnight ago in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley but had won four consecutive league games prior to their surprise 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arteta&#8217;s men rescued a late draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the season but will have to beat City in their own backyard if they are to put fresh distance between them and their nearest challengers.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37002450\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37002450\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37002450.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-v-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37002450.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Arsenal-v-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37002450.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Arsenal-v-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37002450.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-v-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Arsenal and Mikel Arteta know defeat at The Etihad could prove to be catastrophic for their title hopes\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Arsenal and Mikel Arteta know defeat at The Etihad could prove to be catastrophic for their title hopes<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And Rooney reckons Arsenal may have to &#8220;play dirty&#8221; in order to do so, saying the north London outfit must &#8220;be tough to break down, make sure there&#8217;s no gaps between the lines and try to hit them on the break&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He added: &#8220;Whether the fans like that type of football or not, they have to do anything to stop City winning. They need to be resilient enough to stop City from scoring.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em><a aria-label=\"Join our new WhatsApp communityLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Mirror Football<\/strong> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us &#8211; and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re cu<\/em><em>rious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"Privacy NoticeLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">WORLD CUP LEGENDS: <a aria-label=\"The stars who lit up football\u2019s greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition todayLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/world-cup-legends-5666-p.asp\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">The stars who lit up football\u2019s greatest tournament &#8211; Buy the Special Edition today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal know that defeat away at Manchester City next weekend will blow the Premier League<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}