Regardless of the fans, Arsenal must resort to dirty tactics against Man City.

Wayne Rooney highlights the mental burden on Arsenal, stressing that the club requires a more practical strategy in their clash with Man City during the English Premier League championship battle.

British media are focusing on the showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad, a match that could shift the dynamics of the Premier League title race. Amid this context, Wayne Rooney unexpectedly offers a candid viewpoint, even a controversial one, regarding how Arsenal should approach the game.

According to analyses in the British media, Man City holds several advantages before kick-off. Pep Guardiola's team is in better form, having convincingly beaten Chelsea, while Arsenal disappointed by losing to Bournemouth at home. In this situation, Rooney emphasizes that psychological factors could decide the match, suggesting Arsenal must alter their style if they want to surprise.

Speaking to Mirror, the former England captain stated: “I think Man City will have a psychological edge, simply because they have the current manager and squad. They will maintain composure better than Arsenal.” According to Rooney, Man City's title race experience and mental fortitude give them superiority in crucial moments.

He also warned about the pressure burdening Arsenal: “Arsenal will be anxious, because when you're having a poor run, you start thinking ‘where will the next goal, the next win come from?’. That negative mindset greatly impacts performance.” This has been somewhat evident after the Gunners lost a significant advantage in the standings.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have finished second for three consecutive seasons, twice losing specifically to Man City. Most recently, they also lost to this opponent in the Community Shield final. Despite winning four straight domestic league matches, the stumble against Bournemouth has clearly shaken confidence.

In the first meeting, Arsenal dramatically salvaged a point, but the rematch at Etihad will be a completely different challenge. Man City knows that a win would reduce the gap to just three points with one game still in hand – enough to turn the title race around.

The most striking point in Rooney's statement lies in his controversial advice: “must play dirty”. He analyzed that Arsenal needs “tight defense, no gaps between lines, and exploiting counter-attacks”. This is seen as a pragmatic approach, even contrary to the familiar philosophy of the London club.

Rooney concluded bluntly: “Whether fans like that style or not, they must do everything to prevent Man City from winning. Arsenal needs enough grit to deny the opponent goals.” In a match that could decide the championship, Rooney's message suggests Arsenal may have to sacrifice aesthetic appeal for a chance to win.