City star Rodri ready for Arsenal showdown

Rodri set his sights on Arsenal after helping Manchester City hit back from a difficult week off the field with a rampant performance on it.

City were rocked last Monday when they were charged with multiple breaches of the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules.

That prompted a rallying cry from manager Pep Guardiola and the players duly responded as the champions powered to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa at a raucous Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The result also put City firmly back in the title picture afterlastweek’ssetbackatTottenham by cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top to three points.

Guardiola’s side could now supplanttheGunnerswithvictory at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Midfielder Rodri, who scored the opening goal after four minutes, said: “We have a massive chance to be on top of the table but we don’t have to think much in this, just try to beourselves,showpersonality in a very difficult stadium and show we can be a better team thanthem.Theyhavebeenbetter until now but we are going to go there to give the best of ourselves.”

Roared on by a passionate crowd, City dominated from the outset against Villa and had numerous other chances to add to Rodri’s early header beforeErlingHaalandsetupIlkayGunodganfortheirsecond after39minutes.RiyadMahrez added a third from the penalty spot to all but wrap up victory before the interval.

“From the first minute we showed how good we are,” said Rodri. “From the start, even though we changed the tactics a bit, the involvement of the team was unbelievable.

“We could have scored more than two or three goals. We are happy because of the goals and because we did an amazing first half.

“Wecontrolledabitlessthe second half, but that is sometimes what you have to do to make a step forward. After a defeatitisalwaysgoodtocome back like this.”

Rodri thanked the fans for playing their part. “When they are like this they inject us with extra energy,” the Spaniard said. “We love them and sometimes we need them to act like this because we really feel them on the pitch.”

On the downside, Haaland didnotreappearforthesecond half after taking a knock.