Erling Haaland started the current Premier League season in unstoppable form but his finishing has dipped significantly in recent weeks.
The former Dortmund striker netted nine goals in Manchester City’s first four league fixtures, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham.
Haaland then scored his 10th league goal of the season in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on September 22.
After that game, which ended with John Stones bagging a dramatic late equaliser, Haaland took aim at Mikel Arteta on the field as he told the Arsenal manager in a confrontational manner: ‘Stay humble eh, stay humble.’
Haaland also swore at Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus amid heated scenes after the final whistle that day.
Those words, ‘stay humble’, are now being used as a stick to beat Haaland with because his own form since then has been very humble compared to his own high standards.
Haaland has featured in seven Premier League matches since that draw with Arsenal. He has played the full 90 minutes in each of those matches but only scored two goals.
Those two goals have come from 36 shots, 15 of which have been on target.
According to The xG Philosophy, Haaland’s expected goals based on his chances during those seven games was 8.03 – meaning his conversion rate has been more than 75% lower than detailed statistical data suggests it would ordinarily be.
Haaland registered seven shots on Saturday as City fell to a fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions by losing 4-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Just two of those seven shots forced Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario into saves, while Haaland also struck the woodwork.
Haaland spoke to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s game and admitted he was desperate to halt City’s losing run.
He said: ‘Yeah, we lost four in a row. It’s not normal in a club like this. It hurts, it clearly does. And the motivation is bigger than ever to go on Saturday and to win the game and to get on the run again.’
Asked how City’s bad run was affecting him away from the pitch, Haaland added: ‘I think it’s important to just let it go. It’s the most difficult thing, even in life, to let things go and be sad and everything. But focus on next because look how many games there are.
Erling Haaland has scored 2 goals from 8.03(xG) in the Premier League since telling Mikel Arteta to stay humble.
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) November 23, 2024
‘If I’m going to start thinking about the last four games, that’s not a good thing. And that’s exactly what I didn’t do.
‘I went to the national team and we won two games.
‘So it’s about restarting, it’s about looking at what’s next, it’s about staying in the present moment and to look what’s ahead.’
City remain second in the Premier League despite their latest loss.
However, a win for Liverpool over Southampton on Sunday would see Guardiola’s side fall eight points behind the leaders.
City’s next Premier League game is away at Liverpool on December 1.
Be the first to comment