Man City star Rodri doesn't hold back with bold Arsenal warning - 'I don't care'

Rodri in action earlier this season (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The wounds from last year’s thrashing at the hands of Arsenal are long gone for Manchester City — at least according to Rodri, ahead of this weekend’s showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

City were hammered 5-1 by the Gunners in this fixture last season, with Arsenal ruthlessly exposing the then-vulnerable champions.

The match only added to the growing tension between the two sides. Myles Lewis-Skelly mimicked Erling Haaland’s trademark celebration after making it 3-1, while the Emirates DJ blasted Kendrick Lamar’s track Humble at full time — a pointed dig at City.

All of which sets up another captivating meeting on Sunday. Rodri, who missed that 5-1 defeat through injury, insists neither he nor the team are carrying any scars from last year.

“Yeah, we’re going with the mentality to win in there [the Emirates],” said the Spain international. “I don’t care what happened last season, I don’t care.

“We have the level to go there and show our best shape again. We know they [Arsenal] are an unbelievable team; they reform the team every single year with incredible signings and every day they’re potentially better and better.

“But yeah, it’s the beginning of the season, and it will be a good message for them if we go there and win in their home. So this is our mentality.”

Rodri is only just returning to full fitness after suffering an ACL injury in the 2-2 draw between City and Arsenal at the Etihad last season.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are pushing to finally clinch the Premier League title after finishing runners-up in each of the past three campaigns. They have started 2024-25 with three wins and just one defeat — away to Liverpool.

“They’re obviously a strong team, one of the contenders [for the title],” Rodri said. “It’s the beginning of the season, three points, but it’s an important game because it’s not only three points you can win — it’s three points you can potentially take from a Premier League contender.”