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Bernd Leno reveals text messages ahead of Man City clash as Arsenal title race promise made

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has revealed he has told former team-mates he will do everything to prevent a Manchester City win this weekend.

City are in action at Fulham tomorrow afternoon as they look to move top of the table, with the Gunners later in action on Sunday against Manchester United.

Arsenal currently occupy first place with a one-point lead over the Sky Blues, who have significantly reduced the goal difference gap between the sides in recent weeks.

One player who will be looking to stop City in their tracks this weekend is none other than Leno, who spent four years at Emirates Stadium before signing for Fulham during the summer of 2022 for a reported fee of £8million.

Though no longer a member of Mikel Arteta's squad, the German shot-stopper is fully aware his old club are on the verge of something special and wants to help Arsenal over the finish line by preventing a City victory on Saturday.

"If we take some points from City, I think a lot of Arsenal boys will text me, the 32-year-old told Fulham's official website. "A couple of them text me already and I said to them 'guys don't worry we will give 100% because we want to finish our last home game in a positive way as well'. Our focus is on us.

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"Most of the games we have had against City are very night," continued Leno. "Even last season when we lost 2-1, it was very tight game at The Cottage. Hopefully we can make it as hard as possible for them. We need a perfect day, a perfect game. The referee needs a perfect game as well. We want to finish our last home game in a positive way."

Fulham head into Saturday's game 13th in the Premier League table and are well clear of the relegation battle heading into the final two matches of the campaign. Marco Silva's side have adapted well to the top flight following their promotion ahead of the 2022/23 season, avoiding the bottom three rather comfortably after securing a 10th-placed finish.