Troy Deeney says Erling Haaland is ‘ridiculous’, but the Manchester City star could become even better if he emulated Didier Drogba.
Man City and Arsenal lock horns in what could shape up to be the first of two Premier League title clashes this season on Sunday.
One man Gunners fans, and probably Mikel Arteta, will be having sleepless nights about in the lead up to the tie is City’s talisman, Haaland.
The striker has won the Premier League golden boot for the last two seasons, and his fine form hasn’t stopped this campaign, bagging nine goals – including two hattricks – in four league games.
Former Watford striker Deeney knows a thing or two about finding the net, and he’s tipped the striker – who could bag a record-levelling 100th City goal this weekend – to be at it again against the Gunners.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com, he said: “Haaland started slower this year as well as they did. It’s a joke.
“I remember at the back end of last year, people were saying Haaland’s first year was like a one-off because he had a bad year and he scored 25 goals.
“And I was like, are you listening to what you’re saying? The man scored 25 goals and it was a ‘bad season’. That doesn’t happen. So I think he’s had a nice summer, he’s had a nice break, looks rested.
“And he’s just come back and he’s just going, well, hat-tricks, I’ll have six of them just to start the season if you don’t mind. It’s like a McDonald’s order ain’t it for him?”
This week, iconic Arsenal striker Thierry Henry said the impressive 24-year-old could progress his game even further by adding being able to drop deep and win the ball to his game.
And Deeney, who scored 47 top flight goal with Watford, namedropped another Premier League legend Haaland could emulate to do just that – Chelsea fan favourite Drogba.
The ex-Birmingham star said: “What happens with players, strikers look at strikers, and they can critique a striker better than anybody else. Haaland is an old school poacher, like Robbie Fowler and Ian Wright. They do other things, yes, but it wasn’t their strong suit.
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“This guy is big, powerful, has four shots a game and scores three. He’s ridiculous.
“But if there was an achilles heel, it’s probably [when] his back is to goal. Or, if there’s not enough space in behind, which Arsenal do really well against him. So, my advice would be seek out advice from people much better than me – I’d [help him do it for] free by the way if he wants.
“Speak to someone like Didier Drogba. Go and ask Didier ‘how did you hold the ball up?’ A lot of the time people just know how to hold the ball up, they didn’t plan it.
“It just happened. No one told me how to hold the ball up. It was just trial and error. I started getting my head smashed and split open at the back and I thought ‘I don’t really like this, I better start looking after myself’.
“So I don’t think it’s a case of anyone messing up that beautiful hair of his, he’s got things to work on. He said he needs things to work on.
“Imagine being 6’ 4, 6’ 5, gorgeous, rapid, score goals. What more do you want?”
It won’t be raining goals
While City and Arsenal both boast exciting attacking options beyond Haaland, Deeney thinks the clash will be another tight affair.
Their last game at the Etihad was a 0-0 draw, with the Gunners winning 1-0 in the clash at the Emirates before that.
“I think on paper it’s a very juicy clash,” Deeney said. “I think it’ll be a very pragmatic game. I think Arsenal are going to be very defensive, I think they’ll try and hit City on the counter, and make use of set pieces.
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“I think Man City, if Kevin [De Bruyne] doesn’t play, will have to figure out a new way of winning. But it’s all about whether Arsenal can keep Haaland out. Haaland’s the man.
“When we go to games now we don’t go ‘Haaland might score’, it’s ‘how many will he score’. But I think Arsenal have done well over recent times, they’ll just drop deep and limit the amount of space he’s got.
“I know I shouldn’t say this but I think it’ll be a boring 1-0 to one team. We need a City goal early which means Arsenal have to come out and play their stuff.”
Shut up shop
Man City have conceded first in their last two Premier League home victories.
First came newly promoted Ipswich, who went on to lose 4-1, followed by Brentford, who suffered a 2-1 defeat in the end.
But should Arsenal find the net first, Deeney reckons they’ll be able to see out a win.
He said: “You’d have to. When you look at how that back line and the goalie are playing, they’re getting clean sheets every other week.
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“When you look at where they’re at, they’ve had a lot of travel. I know the north London derby could have been a home game couldn’t it, the amount of travel. Away day, followed by away day, followed by away day, isn’t great for anyone.
“I know people think players are spoilt and they live this wonderful life, but like everyone, we all like our own beds!
“They’ll know this is the end of a very tough week and they’ll want to see it out and look forward to this massive game.”
Title decided by September?
Arsenal’s record at the Etihad has been their Achilles heel in the title push for the last two seasons.
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And although this clash comes just five games into the new campaign, City will go five points clear of Arsenal if they win – and Deeney says the Gunners can’t afford for that to happen.
He said: “I think it’s one of those things, if Arsenal lose, people will say City have won it.
“But the only way you could see City not win it then is because of the charges. I don’t think they’ll lose it from a football perspective.
“It’s very difficult to think they’re going to lose two games back to back and then allow Arsenal to beat them in the return leg.
“City have this thing in the last 10 games, you know we had Fergie time, you know they’re going to score. In the last 10 games of the season City just go ‘we’re just going to win all 10’.
“It’s like Tiger Woods in the golf when he was at his best. If he was behind you just knew he’d come and make a late surge.
“For everyone else, they go into squeaky bum time, where as City go in to hyperdrive. Win the game, next one, next one.
“I think they will go on to win the league, again.”
