Kolo Toure sees no reason why Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe cannot take up the mantle of football's great rivalry.

Haaland scored his 49th goal of the season as Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday, while Mbappe is enjoying another stellar campaign at Paris Saint-Germain, as well as having won the Golden Boot at the Qatar World Cup.

Mbappe's 34 goals across all competitions this term is bettered only by Haaland's extraordinary tally when it comes to players from Europe's top five leagues.

With Mbappe's club-mate Lionel Messi reaching the twilight of his career and Cristiano Ronaldo having left Europe for Saudi Arabia, former City and Arsenal defender Toure has no doubt the France star, 24, and Haaland, 22, will be the players battling it out at the pinnacle of the game.

"Absolutely, absolutely. They are both incredibly great players," Toure told Stats Perform.

"Young, hungry players with big qualities, playing for top clubs. You can see that the rivalry is coming, you can feel that, because they're both goal scorers.

"They have different qualities obviously. There is one who really is a good scorer and there is one who – yeah he can score goals, but at the same time, he can provide, he can dribble.

"It's going to be really interesting to see both of them fighting, because they are the next generation, definitely."

Haaland, who supplied two assists for Kevin De Bruyne against Arsenal, lacked his usual clinical edge in the game, seeing several attempts saved by Aaron Ramsdale before he ultimately got his goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

That took Haaland onto 33 league goals for the season, a new record for a 38-game Premier League campaign and one away from the competition's best-ever tally of 34 (held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole).

"He is a very dominant striker," Toure said of the Norway international.

"But, one thing I have to say is he chose the right thing for him, because he's a goal scorer and he needs to play for a team that provides him the ball.

"When you have De Bruyne, you have [Bernardo] Silva, you have [Ilkay] Gundogan, you have Jack Grealish, unbelievable players around him providing the ball, the quality they're showing to support him is incredibly great.

"That's so clever from the boy, he made the right choice.

"He got to the right team. We're going to do the work for him to just finish, because he's a finisher.

"His control, the way he handled the ball to bring the team up when Arsenal were pressing them, it was unbelievable. I saw a player who can get the ball from the feet, take the ball, dribble past two, three, three players and have a shot.

"That shows the quality he has and there's big room for him to just keep improving. He is in the right team, he has the right manager and he will keep improving definitely. But, what he has shown is unbelievable."

The Premier League title race is "not over" for Manchester City and Arsenal, but ex-player Kolo Toure acknowledged the reigning champions hold the advantage.

Pep Guardiola's side ruthlessly dismantled Arsenal in a 4-1 win on Wednesday, to move two points off the Gunners at the summit with two games in hand.

After dropping points three games on the bounce before their loss to the champions, Arsenal's hopes of a first title since 2004 look to have slipped away.

But Toure, who won Premier League titles with both clubs across his career, feels it cannot be called until the final day of the season, despite City's ascendancy.

"It is not over yet," he told Stats Perform. "There are still some games. [It was a] big statement from City. They showed their qualities, they showed their mentality.

"They showed that they want to win the Premier League. From the start of the season, they have always been the favourite to win it, but [there are a] few games to go.

"Arsenal have been doing very well this season. Challenging City is always really, really hard because of the manager, because of the depth of the team they have.

"But Arsenal are surprising everybody and until the last game, you cannot say that league is done. As soon as you have one mistake, and you lose one game, everything changes in your mind.

"The pressure starts again. That's why, for Arsenal, it's very important that they stay on it. They have to make sure they don't make any mistakes to keep the pressure on City."

Arsenal had been considered rank outsiders for the title in pre-season, but until their recent dip, looked in a commanding position to push on and secure victory.

A slew of draws with Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton have cost them dearly however, with the defeat to City taking matters out of their hands.

Toure disagrees with the idea Arsenal have choked from the pressure however, and believes the Gunners have shown exceptional growth under Mikel Arteta to even be in the conversation.

"It's very harsh [to say so]," he added. "That's harsh because no one expected Arsenal to do what they are doing. Until the season is over, it's not over.

"I would say they're on the right road and the right track, because Arsenal have been suffering for a few years with some of their results. Arteta came, he did a great job.

He has put the club on the right path now. They just have to believe in him, they just have to carry on with what they're doing. I believe they are on the right track.

"[If they] stay calm, keep doing the process, keep putting pressure on those immense clubs like City, like Liverpool, then there is a moment where your time will come to shine."

Arsenal next face a London derby with struggling Chelsea on Tuesday before a clash with top-four rivals Newcastle United a week on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola has warned Arsenal will not give up on their bid to deny Manchester City a third successive Premier League title.

After a Kevin De Bruyne-inspired City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday, Guardiola's men sit two points behind the faltering leaders with two games in hand.

Arsenal are not in action again until they host Chelsea on Tuesday, meaning City have the opportunity to go top of the table when they visit Fulham on Sunday.

With Arsenal only taking three points from their last four league games and City winning their last seven, some have declared the title race to be over, despite the Gunners leading the way.

Guardiola, however, is adamant City still have work to do.

Asked about the importance of going top at Friday's pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: "Psychologically, it's important, but its more the fact it depends on us, we don't have to look at anything except performing as well as possible to win games.

"People start saying they have a feeling that it's over. It's not over. It will be over when it's over. In every single game, our opponents play for special things.

"I know what happened when we played at the Emirates, we won and everybody was happy, people saying we had already caught them. Then we went to Nottingham Forest and drew – it was a fantastic game, but we drew.

"If we do our job, we will be close. But we'll take nothing for granted. We're happy, of course, for the last few games, but that's all.

"I know it's not 20 games left, it's seven games. But seven games is seven games, it's a lot, considering we have the Champions League around the corner."

Arsenal's chastening defeat at the Etihad Stadium was the Gunners' 12th in succession against City in the top flight, with Guardiola's men winning those matches by an aggregate score of 33-5.

While that result has the potential to be a knockout blow after Mikel Arteta's team were held by Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, Guardiola believes Arsenal could yet fight back.

"I know Mikel perfectly, I think our players know it – they will not give up," he said. "One of their real prizes – to be in the Champions League next season – is done. They will not give up.

"When you are 10 points in front you can say it's over, but the reality today is we are two points behind. 

"You say we have two games in hand, but we have to be respectful to the teams we have to play, West Ham and Brighton. We have to beat them. If we beat them, I will agree with you, but we still have to play.

"If the championship finished today, they are champions. It's normal, this tendency, because of what we have done in the past, and Arsenal have not been there for a long time. 

"What happened to Arsenal in the last four games can happen to us. People say it's impossible, no. It's possible."

Luka Modric could miss Real Madrid's Copa del Rey final clash with Osasuna and the first leg of the Champions League sem-final against Manchester City after suffering a thigh injury.

Modric sustained an injury to his left leg during Madrid's surprise 4-2 defeat at Girona on Tuesday, a result which kept them 11 points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

The blow comes at an unfortunate time for Los Blancos, who will bid to end a nine-year wait to lift the Copa del Rey on May 6, before hosting City three days later.

Asked about Modric's fitness ahead of Saturday's fixture against Almeria, Ancelotti acknowledged losing the Croatian's experience would be a big setback.

"He got an injury in the game against Girona. We will see how he progresses in the next few days," Ancelotti said.

"He will be doubtful for the Copa final. We must evaluate him, we are hurt, but it can happen. I hope he recovers for the important matches.

"We have very important midfielders like Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. We have many resources.

"But to replace Luka… you cannot replace his experience in these kinds of games."

Madrid have won just four of their past nine league games (D2 L3) to allow Barca to pull clear at the summit. 

Pushed on why Madrid had failed to replicate their cup heroics in LaLiga this term, Ancelotti said: "I don't know, it's a matter of concentration, it's normal, not always being able to be at the top. 

"The schedule is very demanding and I see many coaches complaining about this. We are human and it's the truth, sometimes I can't prepare all the games in the same way either. 

"In some games you concentrate better, and in others it's worse. It happens to everyone, good days and bad ones.

"You have to trust the players. I see the group in great shape. What happened last season was unforgettable and we want to repeat it."

Bernardo Silva has described Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland as “beasts” after the destructive duo ran riot in Manchester City’s vital win over Arsenal.

De Bruyne scored twice from Haaland assists and then made another for John Stones before the Norwegian got on the scoresheet in a 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

The victory put the treble-chasing champions in firm control of the Premier League title race as they moved within two points of the leaders with two games in hand.

Haaland has now scored a stunning 33 goals in the competition this season – one short of the record – and laid on seven assists while De Bruyne’s figures are seven and 16 respectively.

City midfielder Silva said: “We knew that they could come doing man-to-man and we tried to stretch them as much as possible because, if they do man-to-man against us, they have to deal with Kevin and Erling up front. It’s never going to be easy in that spot.

“It was perfect for Kevin. They gave space for Kevin and to Erling to run. When you give them this kind of space, they are so difficult to defend.

“Two beasts running, their movements – Kevin with the passes, Erling with the scoring – this was the opposite.

“They did it perfectly, they created lots of chances. We could have scored even more.”

City now have a superb chance to emulate Manchester United’s 1999 achievement of winning all three of the remaining trophies on offer.

As well as being in command of their title destiny they are through to the FA Cup final, where they will face United, and they take on Real Madrid in the last four of the Champions League next month.

Manager Pep Guardiola has been reluctant to publicly discuss the prospect of winning the treble.

Silva insists the subject is not off-limits but the focus is very much on taking one game at a time.

The Portuguese said: “No, he hasn’t banned anything! We’re big men and we talk about whatever we want.

“But these players know that the best way to achieve good things is to think just about the next one. If we don’t beat Fulham on Sunday we put ourselves in a difficult position to win the Premier League.

“If we don’t win the Premier League we arrive in the final of the FA Cup and in the semi-finals of the Champions League not in a good momentum.

“We want to try and stay in this good momentum to try and go as far as possible. The team is doing very well at the moment and we’re going to try and keep it that way.”

Manchester City and United supporters travelling to the FA Cup final look set to face disruption after train drivers announced three fresh strikes in a long-running row over pay.

Members of Aslef will walk out on May 12 and 31 – and when Wembley hosts Manchester City and Manchester United on June 3.

The union said it has rejected a “risible” four per cent pay offer from the 16 train companies it remains in dispute with.

General secretary Mick Whelan said drivers have not had a pay rise at those companies since 2019.

He said on Thursday: “Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).

“The proposal – of just four per cent – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10 per cent and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.

“The RDG, in turn, rejected our proposals to modernise Britain’s railways and help them run more efficiently, for passengers and for businesses, in the 21st century.

“Consequently, we have today announced three more days of strike action on Friday May 12, Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3 at the companies with which we are in dispute, and which are letting down passengers, and taxpayers, so badly.

“We are also withdrawing non-contractual overtime from Monday May 15 to Saturday 20 inclusive, as well as on Saturday May 13 and Thursday June 1.”

The train operating companies involved in the dispute are: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway, SWR depot drivers, SWR Island Line, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

The May 12 strike will be held the day before the Eurovision final in Liverpool.

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “This is disappointing news for our customers and staff, more strike action is totally unnecessary and will only heap more pressure on an industry already facing an acute financial crisis. Senselessly targeting both the final of Eurovision and the FA Cup final is disappointing for all those planning to attend.”

The PA news agency has contacted fan groups attached to the Manchester clubs for comment.

Wembley has become one of world football’s most revered football stadiums over the last 100 years, but only survived its infancy thanks to a Scotsman and some greyhounds.

The first FA Cup final at what was then called the Empire Stadium took place on April 28, 1923.

The stadium had been built in 300 days, at a cost of £750,000, for the following year’s British Empire Exhibition, which was held to demonstrate Britain’s enduring colonial strength in the wake of the First World War.

There were concerns over whether the 1923 final between Bolton and West Ham would even manage to draw a full house to the 125,000-capacity stadium, but ultimately it took mounted police to clear the pitch in order for the match to kick off due to overcrowding.

It has been estimated that well over 200,000 people gained access to the stadium for the match, which became known as ‘The White Horse Final’ after a light grey horse called Billy, ridden by policeman George Albert Scorey and who showed up white in the black and white images of the time, helped clear spectators from the pitch.

Bolton beat West Ham 2-0 in a match which kicked off around 45 minutes late.

Despite the popularity of that contest, the exhibition itself which followed in 1924 and 1925 was considered a commercial failure, and the stadium was all set for demolition had it not been for the intervention of two key individuals.

Sir James Stevenson, a Scot who was chairman of the exhibition committee, lobbied for the stadium to remain open, while Arthur Elvin stepped in to stop it going to the dogs by organising greyhound races on the stadium’s track, starting in 1927, which made Wembley financially viable.

Wembley is most closely associated with football but has hosted a myriad of other sports over the years – some more successfully than others.

The NFL has enjoyed great success in bringing its International Series of regular-season matches to the stadium, which has also hosted some enthralling boxing contests from Cassius Clay v Henry Cooper in 1963 to Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.

An attempt to popularise ski jumping in the UK by hosting a Winter Sports Exhibition – in late May – featuring a 150-foot jump constructed out of scaffolding did not catch on quite so well, and appears set to remain a one-off.

In an era before football enjoyed blanket coverage, the FA Cup final at Wembley was for many years one of the only games to be regularly televised internationally, making it a venue players all around the world dreamt of playing at.

Pele, the Brazil great who died late last year, said it was his biggest regret that he never played a match at Wembley, which he described as “a cathedral of football”.

The old stadium’s place in English football folklore was secured when it played host to the 1966 World Cup final, with the home team winning the trophy thanks to a 4-2 extra-time victory over West Germany.

By the 1990s, however, there were fresh calls for the stadium, now beginning to show its age, to be bulldozed.

Playing host to England’s matches at Euro ’96, with ‘Three Lions’ ringing out from the stands, was the old stadium’s last great hurrah, with its final match a sad, soggy affair in October 2000 as England slipped to a 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Germany which prompted the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan.

The rebuild, which cost over £700million, featured an arch to replace the famous Twin Towers as the stadium’s most eye-catching element.

It remains a go-to destination for national and international football events, and has already hosted two Champions League finals since it reopened in 2007.

What should have been one of its most memorable occasions turned into arguably its darkest day, as England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties in July 2021.

The match was overshadowed by chaos outside and within the stadium. Individuals under the influence of drink and drugs created disorder, with around 2,000 people without tickets gaining entry.

Baroness Casey, who led an independent review into what went wrong on the day, highlighted a catalogue of “near-misses” which could have led to fatalities.

The final Wembley deserved came just over a year later, as England triumphed in extra time against Germany at Women’s Euro 2022.

The five UK and Ireland football associations are hoping to convince UEFA’s executive committee later this year to make Wembley the centrepiece of another Euros – this time the men’s competition in 2028.

Thanks to those who helped it through the uncertainty of its earliest days, the stadium could reasonably hope to still be hosting top-level sports in another 100 years’ time.

Pep Guardiola insisted there was nothing decisive about Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Premier League rivals Arsenal but acknowledged something big had shifted with the title now in his side’s hands.

City made light of a fixture long billed as a high-pressure title decider, with the dynamic play of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland ripping through the Arsenal defence time and again.

City scored four – Haaland netting the last after twice setting up De Bruyne, who in turn got the assist on a John Stones header – but could have exceeded that in the first half alone on a dominant night. Rob Holding’s late goal was slim consolation for the Gunners.

Arsenal still ended the night top of the table, but their two-point advantage looks particularly vulnerable with a City side who have won seven in a row in the league boasting two games in hand.

“It was an important game, not decisive but important,” Guardiola said.

“We played very good. I know the opponent we played. They’re still top, I know it sounds naive what I’m saying but we are still behind. We are still there.”

With the exception of a few days in February after City won 3-1 at the Emirates, Arsenal have topped the Premier League table since the third week of the season.

City have been playing catch up all along with Guardiola calling Arsenal the favourites for the title, but this result convinced the Catalan he and his side are finally in the stronger position.

“Absolutely (I prefer) my position because now it’s in our hands,” he said.

“I would love that these two games are six points but you have to win them, but I prefer it because it depends on us.

“Until today, I prefer the position in the Premier League of Arsenal because if Arsenal had beaten us it’s in their hands. But now it is in our hands.”

For Arsenal this was a fourth straight game without a win, with the Gunners appearing to wilt just as City turn up the heat.

Mikel Arteta admitted his side were second best on the night and might now end up second best in the league, but refused to admit defeat in a title race his side still lead, at least for now.

“The analysis is clear,” Arteta said. “The better team won the game. They were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level. When that happens the gap becomes too big.

“The first 30 minutes all the basic things you have to do against an exceptional team in terms of competing, winning duels, understanding what the game requires, we didn’t do it and we were punished.

“The stats said Arsenal were going to finish sixth or seventh and we are where we are with five games to go. Those players deserve a lot of credit after nine-and-a-half months being here. And there are still five games to play.

“In 22 years in this country I’ve seen a lot of things and there are not two equal games in this league.”

Arsenal have five games remaining and Arteta admitted they would need to win them all – something that would put them on 90 points – to take the challenge to City.

“We first have to lift the players up tonight because they suffer and it was difficult to swallow,” he said.

“Do everything we have done so well in the next match to earn the right to win it. That’s where we have to start.”

Mikel Arteta will not go down without a fight despite seeing his Arsenal side carved apart by a rampant Manchester City.

Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Erling Haaland were on target as Pep Guardiola's side claimed a 4-1 win over the Gunners on Wednesday.

City are now just two points behind the Premier League leaders with two games in hand.

Following City's win, they now have a 92 per cent chance of winning the league, compared to just eight per cent for the Gunners, according to Opta.

Arteta, however, is not giving up hope.

"It's a very difficult night, obviously after the way we lost," he told BT Sport.

"But we have to stand up, look at the bigger picture and the way we are competing toe-to-toe with this team. It's incredible, to be fair, and we want to compete, we're not going to give up.

"There's five games to go, anything can happen and I've seen a lot of things happen over 20 years. You have to believe that, we have to look in the mirror and accept that we have lost against an exceptional team."

City were brilliant throughout.

De Bruyne put them ahead after just seven minutes, before teeing up Stones to add a second on the stroke of half-time.

De Bruyne's second wrapped matters up early in the second half, with Rob Holding striking a consolation before Haaland got in on the act, surpassing Mohamed Salah's record of 32 goals in a 38-game Premier League season in the process.

"We were beaten by the better team, that's for sure," said Arteta.

"They were exceptional and when that's the case, it's difficult to reach that level, and we were nowhere near our level, especially in the first half – when you open that gap, you get punished.

"When you have it in one corner and they kick it 60 yards, they win that duel, they run through you – you have to start competing, winning your duels and all the basic things. We didn't do them in the first half.

"The way we were in the first 20, 30 minutes, they were on top of us, we could not handle the situation. They were being extremely direct, we knew they had the capacity to do that because they can stretch the pitch. We had to compete but we lost it straight away."

Pep Guardiola was adamant that the next three games will dictate the title race after Manchester City's commanding 4-1 home victory against Arsenal saw them take charge of the Premier League. 

City remain in second place and two points behind Arsenal but, with two games in hand over their London rivals, have wrestled the momentum into their own hands with just seven games to go.

A brace from Kevin De Bruyne alongside goals from John Stones and Erling Haaland cemented a dominant home display from Guardiola's side, but the City manager was quick to turn the attention to the crucial fixtures ahead as City look to take advantage of their games in hand over their London rivals.

"I know the next three games are really important," he said speaking to BT Sport.

"Fulham on Sunday, what Marco Silva has done this season is incredible, and then after the two games at home against West Ham and Leeds, these games will dictate the season.

"The reality today is we are behind Arsenal, they are two points in front of us."

Guardiola went on to laud the dominant manner of his side's victory who have now won 12 consecutive league games against Arsenal. 

"From the first minute we were incredibly focused," Guardiola said. 

"The guys responded unbelievably in an important game – not decisive, but really important.

"We are back-to-back Premier League winners so in September, October, when you lose a game you say you have time, but Arsenal were not like that. When we arrive in the last two months, the players know it’s close and if we lose, we have no chance.

"As a player, playing with that mentality that there is no other option but to win, that is the best way to approach the games. In the last two months, the players showed that every game we try to win and move forward."

Stones', whose header provided City's crucial second goal on the stroke of half-time, suggested that the experience of City's squad was a key factor in the crucial victory.

He said: "We've been through tough moments and situations at this stage of the season in the past, and it's done us so well - we know how to cope and what to do in different scenarios.

"Everyone's been there and everyone has that hunger. Day's like today there is a lot of pressure from the outside, but we know our jobs and what is asked of us on the pitch and that experience helps in those big pressure moments."

Guardiola will now look to guide his side to their fifth league title in six years and heralded the support from the club's board as well as the quality of his players for his remarkable success at the Manchester club. 

"This club gave me everything, from the hierarchy," he said.

"I remember the first season when we didn’t win, they supported me unconditionally. We were lucky as a team with how the way Liverpool pushed us in the previous seasons and this season, Arsenal – they got 50 points in the first half of the season. We want to win, why should we stop, it’s not necessary.

"I’ve been at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. The incredible qualities of the players I have had at my disposal – it’s work ethic, the rest is quality."

Champions Manchester City produced a stunning performance to seize complete control of the Premier League title race with a devastating 4-1 win over leaders Arsenal.

Kevin De Bruyne struck twice with John Stones and Erling Haaland also on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium as City delivered a potentially decisive blow to the Gunners’ hopes of lifting the crown.

Arsenal claimed a late reply through Rob Holding but treble-chasing City had long since asserted their dominance and Haaland wrapped up the contest with his 49th goal of the season in stoppage time.

The result lifted Pep Guardiola’s men to within two points of the Londoners at the top of the table and, with two games in hand, they are now strong favourites to land their fifth title in six years.

Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta simply had no answer to the pace, strength and determination of the hosts, who were at their ruthless best and powered to their 12th win in their last 13 games in all competitions.

Manchester City took the Premier League title race into their own hands with a 4-1 demolition job of leaders Arsenal on Wednesday.

Three straight draws saw Arsenal hand City the initiative before the Gunners' trip to the Etihad Stadium, and Pep Guardiola's side showed little mercy in a stunning display of dominance.

Kevin De Bruyne came to the fore, scoring either side of John Stones' header, which City's playmaker teed up.

Rob Holding snatched a consolation late on, but Erling Haaland ensured he had the last word with a goal that saw him break the record for goals in a 38-game Premier League season, as City made their point.

City were convinced they should have had a penalty inside three minutes, yet De Bruyne was adjudged to have fouled Thomas Partey after Aaron Ramsdale fumbled Jack Grealish's cross.

De Bruyne was wheeling away in celebration soon after, though. Having latched onto Haaland's superb touch, the Belgian beat Ramsdale with a sublime finish into the bottom-right corner. 

White and Ramsdale denied De Bruyne and Haaland respectively as City hunted a second, before the latter drilled wide at the end of a menacing run.

Ramsdale thwarted Haaland again, but Arsenal's resolve was punctured for a second time on the stroke of the interval – Stones heading home from De Bruyne's pinpoint free-kick, with the goal awarded after a VAR check on the linesman's offside call.

Haaland's battle with Ramsdale continued after the break, and Arsenal's goalkeeper again came out on top with a superb one-on-one save.

But Haaland turned provider for City's third in the 54th minute, playing a slick one-two with De Bruyne, whose crisp finish flashed beyond Ramsdale.

Partey lashing out at Grealish's taunts was as close as Arsenal came to laying a glove on City before Holding curled home with four minutes remaining.

Haaland, though, got his goal with the final kick of the game, as City emphatically took matters into their own hands.

Erling Haaland's goalscoring feats are comparable to those of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to Bernardo Silva, who believes his Manchester City team-mate shares the former's hunger for goals.

Haaland has led City's push for a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble this season, scoring at a remarkable rate since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund last year.

The Norwegian has hit 48 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions this campaign – already a record tally for a player representing a Premier League club. 

Haaland has averaged a goal every 67.2 minutes and converted 58.6 per cent of his Opta-defined big chances for City, leaving Silva to compare his mentality to that of his Portugal colleague Ronaldo.

"The goal figures, it's unbelievable. It's Cristiano and Messi level, that amount of goals," Silva told Arab News.

"Hopefully Erling can keep going that way because we need his goals until the last game of the season.

"He has definitely got the same mentality as Cristiano, always wanting to be in the box, always wanting to score. 

"He doesn't care if he touches the ball one or two times, when he touches it, he scores. He's just a proper striker."

Haaland's total of 54 goal contributions is the best of anyone playing in Europe's top five leagues this season, with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe second with 42 (34 goals, eight assists).

With Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr likely signalling the end of his era-defining rivalry with Messi, Silva was asked whether Haaland and Mbappe could be the protagonists of a similar struggle in the future.

"Probably, yes," Silva said. "You have a few players apart from them who are doing very well, like Vinicius [Junior] as well. But it's true, those two are very young and doing very well.

"Kylian is more of a dribbler with the ball and Haaland is mainly inside the box like a proper striker, but both are very, very good at what they do. 

"It's not going to be easy to match the level that Cristiano and Messi did, but they are up there at the top."

Robert Pires has heralded the work of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and believes his former club have "rediscovered their DNA."

Arsenal face Manchester City in a crunch Premier League fixture on Wednesday with the Gunners sitting five points ahead of their rivals, though defeat at the Etihad Stadium will mean Pep Guardiola's side move to within two points with two games in hand.

Regardless of the result, Pires – winner of two league titles with Arsenal – believes their progress should still be celebrated as they continue on an upward trajectory since Arteta's appointment.

"Arsenal are becoming a great English club again," he said, speaking to Le Parisien.

"They're fighting for the title and rediscovering their DNA – playing beautiful football, one which also allows us to see young talents to emerge, like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

"It's everything that Arsene Wenger put in place when he arrived at the club. He wanted people to be inspired by him and play beautiful football. 

"These days, Arteta, who played under him before becoming Guardiola's assistant, has managed to bring that back. Arsenal are back up on their feet and that's why I like watching this team play. 

"You can compare their style of play to that of Lens or Marseille in Ligue 1 – these are teams that constantly attack. Of course there are weaknesses, but this tendency to attack is what we want to see more of in football."

Arsenal are winless in their last three games after draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, while City remain unbeaten in their last 16 in all competitions.

Arteta's men are set to be without influential centre-back William Saliba through injury, with Pires adamant that squad depth may ultimately hinder Arsenal's title charge. 

"That's the main difference between the two squads," he said. "City's is much deeper and more powerful than Arsenal's. Mikel Arteta has often played with the same 12 or 13 players.

"They're a younger team, they have less experience, and that can be difficult when you have to go and get a title. The last two months are difficult. Everyone keeps telling you that you're going to win, there's tension, you're more and more nervous. You can get tripped up."

The FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United on June 3 will kick off at 3pm, the PA news agency understands.

It will be the first time since 2011 that the showpiece match has kicked off in its traditional time slot.

The Metropolitan Police had advised the Football Association that it deemed the fixture high-risk and was not prepared to sanction a kick-off time any later than 4.45pm.

It is expected that the FA will confirm the kick-off time later on Wednesday afternoon.