Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland has equalled a club scoring record set by Sergio Aguero after finding the net in Wednesday’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Arsenal.
The Citizens entered the contest at the Emirates Stadium knowing that securing maximum points would see them leapfrog the Gunners to the top of the table for the first time since early November.
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for City in the 24th minute, capitalising on an under-hit backpass from Takehiro Tomiyasu and expertly looping a first-time finish over the outrushing Aaron Ramsdale, before Bukayo Saka restored parity from the penalty spot three minutes before the break after Ederson barged over Eddie Nketiah.
Jack Grealish then put the visitors back in front with a deflected effort in the 72nd minute, before Haaland secured the victory and ended his three-game goal drought by firing a right-footed finish across the face of goal into the far corner 10 minutes later.
Haaland has now taken his goal tally in the Premier League to 26 after just 21 matches this season, and in doing so has equalled a club record.
Indeed, Haaland has drawn level with club legend Aguero – who spent 10 hugely-successful years at the Etihad Stadium – for the most goals scored for Man City in a single Premier League season (26).
Aguero found the net 26 times in 33 games during the 2014-15 campaign under the tutelage of Manuel Pellegrini as the Citizens went on to finish second in the Premier League.
Haaland, who joined City over the summer from Borussia Dortmund, has remarkably matched that feat having played 12 matches fewer than the Argentine.
Another goal for City’s No.9 in next weekend’s trip to Nottingham Forest will see him move ahead of Aguero and hold the club scoring record for a single campaign outright.
Haaland also has the Premier League Golden Boot record in his sights as he is just six goals away from matching Mohamed Salah‘s all-time scoring record of 32 goals in a single 38-game Premier League season, while the Norwegian is eight goals behind both Alan Shearer and Andy Cole who scored 34 goals in a 42-match season.
Haaland’s strike ultimately sealed all three points for Pep Guardiola‘s side against Arsenal, and they now sit at the summit courtesy of goal difference, although the Gunners do have a game in hand.
Asked by reporters, via BBC Sport, whether City displayed a champions’ performance, Haaland said: “City are, ‘we’ not me, are the champions so you can say so, yeah. Small adjustment in half time from Pep and in the end we have good quality players and we have to get it out of every player and we did today.
“We have to play a little bit more like this sometimes and that is what we did today – I am so proud of every guy here and so happy to be here.
“We can all agree [Arsenal] has been the best team this season so to come and play against them is not easy, but we played an amazing game and got three really important points – we are in it again.”
Asked about how he now feels to have ended his three-game goal drought, Haaland replied: “It has gone 20 minutes since I last got a goal – so I have to keep working!
“It was so positive, happy celebrations, and I am so happy with everything, we needed this one and now we have to go on a run, because that’s what Manchester City should do.”
City will now turn their attention to Saturday’s encounter with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before making the trip to Germany to face RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie next Wednesday.
SOURCE: sportsmole.co.uk
