Reaction to Haaland’s performance against Arsenal: “He look’s like a League Two player!”

Manchester City hit a red wall in their home stadium as they drew 0-0 with Arsenal in the Premier League, and it was their lack of effectiveness in front of goal where the writing on said wall was clearest. The structure implemented by Mikel Arteta at the Etihad Stadium denied Pep Guardiola’s side the win, as well as Erling Haaland a goal.

Although the Norwegian did not have as many chances as in previous matches, in which he was criticised for his poor finishing, Manchester City’s number ‘9′ was also unable to avoid criticism after his third consecutive game without a goal for the treble holders, the fifth if one counts both matches with the national team across the past FIFA break.

‘The level of his overall play is very poor’

In the Sky Sports television studio located in the stadium, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, accompanied by former City defender Micah Richards and ex-Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, was quick to criticise the Norwegian for his performances this season: “The level of his overall play is very poor, and not just today. In front of goal he is the best in the world, but his overall game, for such a player, is very poor. He has to improve it. He’s almost like a League Two player. He will (improve his game) in the next few years. He’s been a fantastic striker, but he has to improve his overall game.”

Of the three shots on goal taken by either team during the Premier League match, none came from Erling Haaland. The ‘cyborg’ completed the 90 minutes with 23 touches, four shots (two wide and two blocked), one missed chance and no goalscoring opportunities. Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United’s legendary goalkeeper, was more refrained when analysing the performance of the Norwegian.

“Why wasn’t Manchester City more daring? We only saw it in the last few minutes. They never shot from distance. Erling Haaland only needs one chance to score a goal, but you have to give it to him, and I don’t think his team gave it to him today,” said the former Danish goalkeeper on the BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast of the match.

However, a lot of the reasoning behind Erling Haaland’s poor game in front of goal, who failed to finish past Raya from just a few yards from goal, once again fell on the Gunners’ centre-back pairing: William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães once again swept up the chances for the Norwegian striker.

The data provided by The xG Philosophy paints a curious picture: “Erling Haaland has accumulated 0′24 expected goals against Arsenal in his last three appearances against them”. It seems like Mikel Arteta has found the way to stop the robot and keep the Premier League title race alive.