– The level of his basic game is so weak. It doesn’t just apply today. In front of goal, he is the best in the world, but his basic game is almost like a League Two player, as I see it.
That’s what former Manchester United player Roy Keane says about Erling Braut Haaland in the Sky Sports studio after the 0-0 match.
– His basic game has to improve, and it will in the next few years, because he has to improve it, says Keane further.
NOT IMPRESSED: Roy Keane is merciless in his judgment of Erling Braut Haaland.
Photo: NICK POTTS / AFP
Haaland struggled badly against Arsenal’s stopper pair Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba in Sunday’s top match and missed the ball on his one big chance in the match.
Nor was former Manchester City player Micah Richards impressed in the Sky Sports studio.
– He does not use his body and strength to keep people away. He has still scored many goals this season, but you are constantly looking for the potential for improvement and with a player behind him he can be even better, he says.
TOUGH TALK: Erling Braut Haaland in one of many tough duels with Arsenal’s centre-back Gabriel Magalhães in Sunday’s match.
Photo: AP
First time since 2021
The match at City’s home ground was 90 minutes of positional warfare, few chances and tough duels.
It is the first time Manchester City have not scored at home in the league since October 2021.
– It was like a bad toothache. It was boring and an anti-climax of a football match, says NRK’s football expert Carl-Erik Torp about the top match, which ended 0-0.
CLOSE AND EVEN: Martin Ødegaard and his Arsenal made it difficult for Manchester City.
Photo: Reuters
Thus, it was a team that was not even involved in the top game that ended up as Sunday’s big winner.
– There must be a jackpot on Easter Sunday for Liverpool, says Viaplay’s football expert Pål André Helland.
Liverpool at the top of the table
It is very close at the top of the Premier League.
Before this round, one point separated Arsenal (1st place) and Manchester City (3rd place). While Liverpool was in 2nd place, only behind Arsenal due to goal difference.
Liverpool beat Brighton 2-1 earlier on Sunday, thus Arsenal had to take three points against Manchester City to maintain the league lead.
When they failed to do so, Liverpool are now alone at the top, two points ahead of Arsenal.
According to the statistics company Opta, there is now a 48 percent chance that Liverpool will win the league.
Last year Arsenal lost 4-1 away to Manchester City and were never really close. That was not the case tonight.
– It is a much more grown-up and mature version of Arsenal that we see today. If the question is whether Arsenal can win the league, then my answer is yes, says Tjærnås.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also satisfied with the team’s performance.
– I’m happy. We have made great strides from last season. We played exceptionally for large parts of the match, he tells Sky Sports after the match.
Published 31.03.2024, at 19.23 Updated 01.04.2024, at 15.54