Arsenal's Rob Holding was no match for Erling Haaland. Photo: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
In many ways, this whole game could be reduced to Erling Haaland vs. Rob Holding — a mismatch that even the most optimistic Arsenal fans have probably always feared is the fault line ripe for terrible exploitation.
Here you could smell Arsenal's fear, taste it, and nothing epitomized this state of paralysis more than watching Holding assess Haaland, take a long sip and think:
«Where do I start with this?» Haaland tossed aside the holding as he did with his hairband late in the game, which made quite a sight with those golden locks blowing in the wind as the Manchester City striker scored his 49th goal in an amazing campaign that- something like a football advertisement for Timothy in a magnificent technocolor.
Better defenders than deputy William Saliba were wiped out by City's appalling goalscoring machine, but rarely have opponents looked so lost so early, at least in games of this magnitude where they weren't supposed to. feel so unbalanced.
As an emblem of what unfolded at Etihad Stadium, it was fitting. When John Stones sent the ball forward in the seventh minute and it began to creep into Haaland's path, Holding could almost be hidden behind that huge Nordic mass.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to see a man who consumes 6,000 calories a day brush off a Premier League central midfielder like he's slapped a fly on the back of the head, but that wasn't the problem. win yourself.
So, shrugging off his man, Haaland turned and slid into Kevin De Bruyne to spray his own wrecking ball magic and leave a shocked, frightened Arsenal staggering.
Oh, Kevin De Bruyne! 🎯
Great takedown from Erling Haaland, who passes to De Bruyne for an amazing run and finish! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Ex4pyouHVJ
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023
Would Holding feel better seeing Haaland inflict the same punishment on his defensive partner , Gabriel Magalhaes, in the second half, rolling the Brazilian like he wasn't around before attacking the net?
It should be emphasized that fear had many more victims in red and white than Holding, but the first half hour set the tone for the bulldozer demolition. It was similar to former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba beating Arsenal's Philippe Senderos at Stamford Bridge years ago.
William Gallas once revealed that Senderos suffered from panic attacks before meeting Drogba. Haaland seemed to have caused something similar in the Holding. City's fury and Arsenal's passivity had many outlets.
While the usually buoyant Mikel Arteta, even at 0-0, looked as subdued and pensive on the touchline as he has always been this season, 10 yards to his left his old boss Pep Guardiola was yelling and gesticulated. as far as this fight is concerned, like Holland, De Bruyne and everyone else in blue.
The hold was too strong for Haaland and is easy to deploy for the first goal. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan
Even Haaland seemed a little afraid to catch his manager's eye as he yelled instructions towards his uncompromising No. 9. Holland, like Holding and Arsenal, to their insistent price, found that inside could there are many fires burning, but you only have to watch Guardiola on the touchline to understand why the City team is so ruthless and unyielding.
When that first goal hit the net and Haaland raced to find his fellow top tormentor, De Bruyne, as all but the small enclave of Etihad erupted in celebration, Guardiola could be seen in Ederson's face angrily grabbing the goalkeeper and scolding him for what he did a couple of minutes ago.
You know, like passing two inches off the wrong side or something like that. Saliba's back injury has always threatened to be a turning point in this title race, and Arsenal's 12 goals conceded in six of their missed matches helped restore City's momentum.
Arsenal's failure against City was not only individual but also collective — Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka were no less disappointing — but it always took a lot of effort for Holding to fill the huge void left by Saliba and you need to think another centre-back with pedigree should be on Arteta's summer shopping list.
Holding was lucky he didn't get booked in the 20th minute after De Bruyne spun him too easily and then shortly thereafter Haaland found himself a few steps ahead of him again with De Bruyne before the Arsenal defender got close to cutting off the supply route.
Nothing from Holding or Arsenal was certain, and the defender's late goal was little consolation on a day when they were lucky enough not to concede six or seven. They just didn't look like they believed they could live with Haaland and De Bruyne and the rest, and damn it showed.
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