Erling Haaland activates beast mode, hands Manchester City cheat code Premium

Erling Haaland's four-goal haul propels Manchester City back into Premier League title contention after a frustrating draw with Arsenal.

When Manchester City was held to a 0-0 draw by Arsenal at the end of March, Erling Haaland had not scored in three matches; City had failed to find the back of the net in a Premier League game at home for the first time since October 2021.

It was a frustrating result for Pep Guardiola’s side, which trailed both the Gunners and then leader Liverpool at that stage. Haaland was beginning to face the sort of criticism he had never experienced before in his career. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane described the centre-forward’s play as “almost League Two level”.

But since that draw, City has won four league games on the bounce, which has left the side with its destiny in its own hands. Although one point behind frontrunner Arsenal, City has a game in hand. Haaland has played a central role in City roaring back to contention, bagging seven goals in four Premier League matches and striking fear into the heart of every defence in England.

Clearly, the goal-scoring machine is rounding into form at the perfect time, with three games remaining in City’s tight title race with Arsenal. Wolverhampton Wanderers was Haaland’s most recent victim, with the 23-year-old scoring four goals in a 5-1 rout last weekend.

Three of Haaland’s goals were in the first half, making him the third player to score two first-half hat-tricks in Premier League history, after Andrew Cole and Michael Owen.

Haaland converted from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s late tackle took Josko Gvardiol down in the box. He then doubled City’s lead in the 35th when he soared high to head home at the far post from Rodri’s cross.

“That’s a beautiful goal. My father [Alf-Inge Haaland, who played for City] is going to be happy with that one,” he told Sky Sports. “A nice celebration, I enjoyed that one. We keep going.”