Five games into the season, with six goals to his name, Erling Haaland is once again showcasing his formidable form, reaffirming his status as the premier pure scorer in modern football. Manchester City`s attack is increasingly designed to create scoring opportunities specifically for him: out of 50 shots taken in their first four Premier League matches, 19 came from Haaland. This marks a significant increase compared to last season, when he accounted for approximately 21% of chances. The absence of Kevin De Bruyne and the inconsistent form of other attacking players make City even more reliant on their star striker.
How to Watch Arsenal vs. Manchester City & Odds
- Date: Sunday, September 21 | Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Emirates Stadium — London
- Live stream: Peacock
- Odds: Arsenal: -110; Draw: +260; Manchester City: +280
However, this unstoppable striker faces Arsenal and their impenetrable defense. The return of William Saliba from an ankle injury will only strengthen their defensive line. The Gunners have successfully contained Haaland in previous encounters, limiting his shots on goal and touches of the ball. Mikel Arteta emphasizes the importance of “preventing the source” of threats when dealing with a player like Haaland, who needs little space to create scoring chances. Over the past two seasons, Haaland has averaged just 19 touches in matches against Arsenal, significantly lower than his usual figures. Arsenal`s defenders, such as Gabriel and Saliba, are not afraid of a physical battle with City`s forward.
While Haaland becomes even more dangerous, Arsenal is also making their strong suit even more effective. After a sluggish start against Manchester United, Arteta`s side has entered a “lockdown mode” without the ball. Their defensive metrics are impressive: in their last four games, they allowed extremely low opponent xG (e.g., 0.13 against Athletic Club, 0.06 against Nottingham Forest). The only goal Arsenal has conceded this season was a fantastic free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.
It`s particularly noteworthy that Arsenal achieved most of these defensive successes without Saliba. In his absence, Cristhian Mosquera, acquired from Valencia for just $17.5 million, has excelled. The 21-year-old defender quickly adapted to the Premier League thanks to his eagerness to learn and strength in duels. Arteta highly praises Mosquera, emphasizing that his performance at such an early stage of his career is very impressive.
Mosquera`s fine form also validates Arsenal`s system, which, despite a sometimes languid pace of ball progression, ensures the defense is ready to snuff out opponent attacks after losing possession. This approach may not always win Arteta many admirers, but it allows them to neutralize the most dangerous strikers, such as Haaland. If Arsenal`s defense continues to perform at this high level on Sunday, Manchester City will face a serious challenge to emerge victorious.
