Roy Keane’s withering analysis of Man City striker

Roy Keane compared the all-round football of Erling Haaland to a fourth-tier player after Manchester City’s goalless draw with Arsenal. 

Haaland is top scorer in the Premier League this season with 18 and on course for a second consecutive golden boot. But his non-goalscoring attributes did not impress the pundit on Easter Sunday.

“The level of his general play is so poor,” said Keane on Sky Sports. “Not just today, laying stuff off, headers or whatever it might be. In front of goal he is the best player in the world but his general play, for such a player, is so poor.

“He is almost like a League Two player. His general play has to improve, but it will over the next few years. He’s a brilliant striker, he’s fantastic but he has to improve his all-round game.”

It was a chance six minutes from time which stirred the ire of Keane, when Haaland drifted off his marker at the back post from a corner and had a chance to steer in a knock-down. Instead he barely connected, the ball brushing his studs and running out for an Arsenal goal kick.

“Haaland today is a strange one,” said Micah Richards. “He’s obviously an excellent finisher but sometimes in his build-up and hold-up play he finds it very difficult to do. He just misses the ball, obviously he wasn’t concentrating on the connection.”

The draw in Manchester kept Liverpool top with Arsenal two points behind. City trail by a further point and are yet to beat a team in the top five this season. Keane saw evidence within their general performance against Arsenal to suggest their status as title favourites is coming into question.

“City’s lack of results against teams in the top five is a big surprise. It’s never been done before, winning four leagues in a row. There’s a reason for that, because there’s such demand to do it week in, week out.

“They just look a little bit off. All the injuries and  the stresses over the past few years. I don’t want to sound like I’m writing City off but it looks like it’s certainly caught up with them in the big games this year.”