Erling Haaland sends strong message to Mikel Arteta’s league leaders Arsenal

Manchester City, according to Erling Haaland, are closing in on Arsenal in the Premier League title race after beating Leeds on Wednesday night.

City won 3-1 at Elland Road in their first league game since the World Cup, with Haaland scoring twice in the second half after Rodri opened the scoring just before the break.

The result moves the Citizens back to second place in the table, five points behind Arsenal, as they seek to become the first club to win three Premier League titles in a row since Manchester United in 2009.

But the Gunners have been in control this season, and their Boxing Day victory over West Ham showed that they have no signs of slowing down, despite the absence of star striker Gabriel Jesus.

City, on the other hand, is particularly well known for turning up the heat in the second half of a season, having come from behind at Christmas to win the title in 2014, 2019, and 2021.

Haaland is leading their charge, and his latest brace means he has broken the record for the fewest number of games required to reach 20 Premier League goals, doing so in just 15 appearances.

Despite this, the sensational striker admitted that he missed plenty of chances against Leeds, telling Amazon Prime: ‘We have to hunt Arsenal. I have a [goal] target, but I can’t say what it is!

‘I just said in the locker room that I could have scored five goals, but the most important thing is that we won. I could have scored a couple more goals, but that’s life, and I need to work harder.

‘I’ve been at home, disappointed that I couldn’t participate in the World Cup. My batteries were charged.

At the World Cup, seeing other people score to win games triggered, motivated, and irritated me. I’m hungrier now than ever.’

It was an emotional game for Haaland, who was born in Leeds and grew up a fan of the club thanks to his father, Alfie Haaland, who played for them from 1997 to 2000.

‘My father and mother were on the tribune today,’ explained the 22-year-old.

‘It’s unique. I’m overjoyed; it’s a watershed moment in my career. I used to have an Eirik Bakke shirt and a jersey of my father in my room when I was younger.

‘It’s crazy – it was a dream of mine to score for City at Elland Road.’