Erling Haaland scores goals like he’s ordering McDonald’s, but he should take inspiration from Chelsea legend to become the perfect striker
Troy Deeney says Erling Haaland is ‘ridiculous’ but the Manchester City star could become even better if he performs like Didier Drogba.
Man City and Arsenal The two teams will face off in what could be the first of two Premier League title clashes this season on Sunday.
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A man is a Gunners fan, and maybe mikel artetaThere will be sleepless nights ahead of this clash over City’s talisman, Haaland.
The striker has won the Premier League Golden Boot in the last two seasons, and his prolific form hasn’t stopped this campaign either, scoring nine goals including two hat-tricks in four league games.
East Watford Striker Deeney knows a thing or two about finding the net, and he has tipped off a striker – who can score goals Record-level 100th City goal This weekend – to play against the Gunners again.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com he said: “Haaland started off slow this year, as he did. It’s a joke.
“I remember at the end of last year people were saying that Haaland’s first year was one-sided because he had a bad year and scored 25 goals.
“And I was like, do you hear what I’m saying? The guy scored 25 goals and it was a ‘bad season’. That doesn’t happen. So I think he’s had a good summer, he’s had a good break, looks relaxed.
“And he’s just come back and he’s just going, well, hat-trick, if you don’t mind I’ll have six of them to start the season. It’s like ordering McDonald’s, isn’t it?”
This week, the prestigious Arsenal striker Thierry Henry He said the impressive 24-year-old can progress his game even further as he is capable of dropping deeper into his play and winning the ball.
And Deeney, who scored 47 top-flight goals with Watford, named another Premier League legend whom Haaland could emulate – Chelsea Drogba, a fan favourite.
The former Birmingham star added: “What happens with players is strikers watch strikers, and they can criticise strikers better than anyone else. Haaland is an old-school striker, like Robbie Fowler and Ian Wright. He does other things as well, yes, but that was never his strong suit.
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“This guy is big, strong, takes four shots a game and scores three. He’s ridiculous.
“But if there was a weakness, it was probably when his back was to goal. Or, if there wasn’t enough space in behind, which Arsenal do really well against him. So, my advice would be to get advice from people better than me – I can help him for free if he wants to.”
“Talk to someone as if Didier Drogba. Go and ask Didier ‘How did you catch the ball?’ Sometimes people just know how to catch the ball, they haven’t planned it.
“It just happened. Nobody told me how to hold the ball. It was just trial and error. I started getting hit in the head and back and I thought ‘I don’t like this at all, I need to focus on myself’.
“So I don’t think it’s a case of someone ruining her beautiful hair, she has some work to do. She said she needs to do work.”
“Imagine you’re 6ft 4in, 6ft 5in tall, gorgeous, run fast and score goals. What more could you want?”
it won’t rain bullets
Although both City and Arsenal have exciting attacking options besides Haaland, Deeney feels this will be a tough contest as well.
Their last match at the Etihad was a 0-0 draw, while before that the Gunners won 1-0 at the Emirates.
“I think on paper it’s a very exciting encounter,” Deeney said. “I think it’s going to be a very pragmatic game. I think Arsenal are going to be very defensive, I think they’ll try to hit City on the counter, and use set pieces.
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“I think Man City, If Kevin (De Bruyne) doesn’t playhave to find a new way to win. But it all depends on whether Arsenal can keep Haaland out. Haaland is the man.
“When we go to games now we don’t think ‘Haaland can score’ but ‘how many goals will he score’. But I think that’s what Arsenal have done well in recent times, they will just drop deep and restrict the space for him.
“I know I shouldn’t say this but I think it would be a boring 1-0 win for a team. We need a City goal early which means Arsenal have to come out and play.”
Close the shop
Manchester City have conceded the first goal in their last two home wins in the Premier League.
First came newly promoted Ipswich, who lost 4–1, followed by Brentford, who eventually lost 2–1.
But Deeney believes if Arsenal score first they will win.
He said: “You have to do that. When you look at how the back line and the goalkeeper are playing, they are getting clean sheets every other week.
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“When you look at where they are, they have travelled a lot. I know the north London derby could have been a home game, couldn’t it, the amount of travelling. An away day, followed by an away day, followed by an away day, is not good for anybody.
“I know people think sportsmen are spoilt and they live a lavish lifestyle, but just like everyone else, we all like our own bed!
“They will know it’s a very tough weekend and they will be looking forward to it and looking forward to the big game.”
Will the title be decided by September?
Arsenal’s record at the Etihad over the past two seasons has been their weak link in winning the title.
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And although the tie comes just five games into the new campaign, if City win they will move five points ahead of Arsenal – and Deeney says the Gunners cannot afford that to happen.
He said: “I think it’s one of those things, if Arsenal lose, people will say City have won.”
“But you can see that City won’t win then because they have been charged. I don’t think they will lose it from a footballing point of view.
“It’s very hard to think they would lose two games in a row and then let Arsenal beat them in the return leg.
“That’s what City have done in the last 10 games, you know we had Fergie’s time, you know they’re going to score. In the last 10 games of the season City just said ‘we’re going to win all 10’.
“It’s like Tiger Woods When he was at his best in golf, if he was behind you knew he would come and take the lead late.
“For everyone else, they go into squeaking bomb time while City goes into hyperdrive. Win the game, the next, the next.
“I think they will win the league again.”