Martin Keown claims Erling Haaland has rendered himself Arsenal’s ‘personal enemy’ following his controversial antics during Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster.
The Norway international failed to score in three games against the Gunners last season and was determined to set the record straight up against Arsenal’s defensive towers of power Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
As it transpired, Haaland took just eight minutes to break the deadlock with a typically accomplished finish that represented his 100th goal in City colours.
Haaland’s influence on the second half was minimal, however, as Arsenal sat resolutely in a low block that came within seconds of helping achieve what would’ve been an astonishing victory.
John Stones’ 98th minute equaliser sparked scenes of joy and relief for City, illustrated by Haaland’s impetuous decision to throw the ball at Gabriel’s head having retrieved it from the back of the net.
Seconds later, City’s goal machine sent Thomas Partey crashing to the floor having barged into him straight from the kick-off and the controversy continued after the final whistle with Haaland appearing to aim digs at Mikel Arteta and Gabriel Jesus.
For Keown, it brought back memories of Arsenal’s famous battles with Manchester United and his own rivalry with Ruud van Nistelroooy.
‘When I was tussling with strikers for a living, I had a little black book in my mind of opponents with whom I could get into a battle,’ the Arsenal legend told MailSport. ‘I was a contact defender and knew who would collapse like a pack of cards when given half the chance and who would stand up to me.
‘If Ruud van Nistelrooy was at one end of the spectrum, Mark Hughes was very much at the other, giving as good as he got whenever we were engaged. Erling Haaland has shown he is not someone who will shy from the fight with Gabriel and William Saliba going forward. He was already the ultimate test professionally.
‘Now, he is practically their personal enemy as Sunday saw that rivalry go up a gear, not least when Haaland committed an act of disrespect by throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head after Stones scored.
‘Arsenal’s clashes with Manchester United forever carried an edge, the sense that we didn’t like them and they didn’t like us and so fireworks were expected. Led by Haaland, that same ill feeling is developing now between English football’s latest elite rivals.
‘It’s bubbling, and nearly spilt over when Haaland crashed into Thomas Partey after the restart, but I believe what kept a lid on it all was the respect between Arteta and Guardiola. It helps that these two former colleagues are such close friends, which certainly wasn’t the case in the early days of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.
‘Instead of turning on each other, Arteta and Guardiola’s fire was directed at Oliver. Make no mistake, however, when these two titanic teams meet again, there will be no love lost between Haaland and Gabriel or Saliba.’
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