Pep Guardiola accepts Erling Haaland’s emotions may have got the better of him in Manchester City’s heated clash with Arsenal last September. But the City manager insists it was a rare lapse from a player who continually rises above persistent attempts by opponents to unsettle him.

Pep Guardiola has denied that a rift has developed in his relationship with Mikel Arteta despite a number of bruising encounters between his Manchester City team and Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola will remain without Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake for Manchester City’s Premier League showdown against Arsenal. City head to the Emirates trailing the Gunners by six points having rescued their Champions League campaign midweek with victory over Club Brugge.