Erling Haaland calm before Arsenal match despite four match goal drought 

It´s a match that could end up deciding the league, but don’t tell that to Erling Haaland. The Norwegian marksman spoke before the match, and played down the pressure of this match, and said Manchester City have “nothing to lose.”

Calm before the storm

Manchester City have been chasing Arsenal since the start of the season, but a fantastic stretch of matches has seen Pep Guardiola’s side tighten the league race for the final month and change of the campaign. The title won’t be won or lost on Sunday afternoon, but it will certainly turn the pendulum in favor of whoever walks out of the Etihad with a favorable.

The timing of this match, and the implications it could have on the race are massive, but Erling Haaland isn’t stressing the match or his subpar run of goal scoring form in the league. “Right now, I’m quite calm,” he told Sky Sports. ”It’s one game a week, which is really unusual for us.”

The former Borussia Dortmund striker hasn’t scored a goal in the Premier League since mid February when he found the back of the net against Fulham in City’s 3-0 win. He did however net a hat trick in the FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool at the beginning of the month, so he still just as dangerous as ever.

Haaland, Gabriel face to face

His league form hasn’t exactly been up to his lofty standards, although his 22 PL goals would suggest otherwise. Being held scoreless in four straight league matches is strange for him, but City have been able to make up in front of goal whenever Haaland fails to put his name on the scoresheet.

Arsenal have been in pole position all season, and City have been in the rare position of pursuing the league leaders. The Norwegian says, that can work to their advantage. “Honestly, I don’t feel a lot of nerves or anything, because we’ve been chasing all season and we’ve got nothing to lose, so I don’t have any pressure,” said Haaland.

Today’s match will set up a meeting between Haaland and Gabriel, who have developed a budding rivalry. The two time Golden Boot winner who will be looking to get back on the score sheet in the biggest match of the year said, “They’re good; Gabriel is good, (William) Saliba good, David Raya is good. It’s not easy, but what can we do? We have to try.”

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