Another Boost For Arsenal? Pep Guardiola Hints At Dropping Erling Haaland For Title Run-In

Last Updated:May 11, 2026, 18:28 IST

Pep Guardiola plans to rotate Manchester City stars including Erling Haaland, backing Omar Marmoush as City chase a domestic treble while trailing Arsenal in the Premier League.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hinted at rotating several first-team players out of the first 11 in the remaining matches of the Premier League title run-in, especially Golden Boot leader Erling Haaland.

Guardiola expects Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush to have a key role in the closing stages of the English season. City have four games left this campaign, including the FA Cup final against Chelsea, in a busy 12-day spell. They have already won the League Cup and can still win the domestic treble, though their Premier League hopes have been dealt a blow with rivals Arsenal beating West Ham away on Sunday.

The Gunners are five points ahead in the league, having played one additional match than City. Mikel Arteta would love City to rotate in the mid-week match against Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Tuesday (Wednesday 12:30 am in India). Marmoush has made only seven Premier League starts this season, but he proved his worth with a goal off the bench in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of Brentford.

Guardiola now hopes Marmoush and other fringe players can step up when called upon as his side.

“We’ve talked many times," said Guardiola. “I know it’s not easy for them, but I’m pretty sure in the next games they’re going to play. “I want to rotate the team because otherwise we cannot arrive in the final or Bournemouth a little bit (fresh)."

“Especially Omar. It’s not easy because normally you just want one striker. He’s a proper striker but Erling (Haaland) is there. Erling is so important for us but the contribution of Omar — the amount of goals for the minutes played — is so high. It’s incredible, and there was a period when he was so tired in November when he came back from Norway qualification," said Guardiola. “It was a struggle."

Arsenal have gone through a similarly congested phase of games multiple times this season, and will now get to play mostly one game/week, with Burnely at home, followed by Crystal Palace away at the end of the campaign and the Champions League final on May 30.

News sports football Another Boost For Arsenal? Pep Guardiola Hints At Dropping Erling Haaland For Title Run-In

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