Laura Woods has fired shots at Manchester City as her beloved Arsenal prepare to take on the reigning Premier League champions this Sunday.
The Gunners currently trail their rivals by two points at the summit after winning three of their four league matches so far.
Both sides will go into the showdown hoping to return to winning ways, having failed to win their European fixtures.
City were held to a goalless draw by Inter Milan, while the match between Atalanta and Arsenal on Thursday also ended 0-0.
Laura Woods has fired shots at Manchester City as her beloved Arsenal prepare to take on the reigning Premier League champions this Sunday
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Woods, speaking to BetMGM, has urged Arsenal to really go for it after setting up for a draw in the same fixture last season.
And the 37-year-old has also fired shots at City by saying their display against Inter ‘was like watching paint dry’.
“I wasn’t angry when Arsenal went to the Etihad last season and played for the draw,” she said.
“I think acknowledging when a team is better than you and having a gameplan to get something out of it is smart.
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“Manchester City are still miles ahead of Arsenal in terms of development and experience – and the Etihad is an absolute fortress.
“It’s also very early on so if Mikel Arteta has plans to do something similar – especially after watching Inter in the Champions League grind out an, albeit very boring, draw – I don’t think it’s the end of the world.
“Taking a point away is better than most teams can manage, especially without Martin Odegaard.
“I did feel at times like I was watching paint dry with City on Wednesday night.
“In the interest of excitement, and in trusting Arsenal’s back four, I would also love the Gunners to go for it.
“Arsenal have the ability to go toe-to-toe with them and a win at the Etihad would certainly be a statement.”
One player Arsenal will need to stop is Erling Haaland.
The Norway international has been outstanding in the Premier League so far, scoring nine goals from four matches.
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Laura Woods says Man City were ‘like watching paint dry’ in their Champions League draw with Inter Milan
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If he bags against Arsenal, he’ll have 100 goals to his name in City colours.
With Haaland continuing to produce, it seems as though he’s destined to go down as the stuff of Premier League folklore.
Yet while Woods believes that, she also insists it’s too early to dub him a great of the game just yet.
“I always think the title of a Premier League great should be reserved for players who have retired so we can fully appreciate them,” she added.
Laura Woods believes Man City star Erling Haaland isn’t a Premier League icon just yet ahead of their crunch clash with Arsenal
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“Erling Haaland is still in his career infancy in the Premier League, which is terrifying in itself when you think of how much he’s already achieved.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind he will be a great but let’s let him achieve his full potential here first and enjoy watching it all unfold before we stick any labels on him.”