Erling Haaland ‘big problem’ explained by Antoine Semenyo as goals dry up | Football | Sport
Manchester City sensation Antoine Semenyo has dismissed the suggestion that Erling Haaland doesn’t possess a sufficiently well-rounded game, insisting he still causes a big problem to opposition defences. The Norwegian swept aside Premier League rivals when he first landed in England but has since faced growing criticism after not scoring in his last four Premier League matches.
Haaland, 25, has already equalled the Premier League goal haul that secured him last season’s Golden Boot (22). And it would be a reasonable assumption he’ll add considerably more to that figure between now and the conclusion of the campaign.
He’s been urged to offer even more throughout City’s play as they attempt to seize the title advantage from Arsenal this Sunday. But January acquisition Semenyo already recognises the significant advantage of featuring alongside such an accomplished presence up front.
“He’s a big problem,” he told In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet. “Just in the games, when people mark him; it’s not just one person marking him, it’s like three people.”
“It’s like [relieved expression] the space for everyone else is fantastic. But he causes so many problems. He’s tall, fast, can finish. [He’s] essentially the complete striker. Anything in the box, he’ll score.”
While he may have developed admiration for his team-mate since departing Bournemouth, Semenyo isn’t allowing himself to get carried away in his Haaland praise. And he refrained from placing his colleague on an excessively lofty platform when questioned where he ranks amongst the finest Premier League strikers of all time. “That’s a tough question,” he replied. “He’ll be up there, for sure. His numbers are a scandal. Forty-one goals in one season.”
He continued: “It’s not even just his goalscoring. What he does for the team, not many people see it but he’s so important.
“Just holding up the ball, bringing players into play, massively important to our game. He can do a lot of things, I’ll give him that.”
The former Premier League Player of the Year will be anticipated to showcase all those qualities this Sunday. City entertain Arsenal with an opportunity to narrow the gap at the summit to just three points, with a game in hand still to come.
Semenyo also believes his side are facing the Gunners at an opportune moment following a run of just one victory in five matches: “Our form over the last couple of games has been good and we’re playing probably the best football we’ve played in the second half of the season.
“So it’s a good time to play them, I guess. Where they’ve dipped in form, we’ve picked up form, so it’ll be interesting.”
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