Haaland right about Arsenal star who would IMPROVE Man City

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 22 Mar 2024 09:55 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says that there is one Arsenal player who would help improve Pep Guardiola’s side – and the data shows the prolific scorer isn’t wrong.

The two clubs are presently locked with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table in a thrilling three-way fight for the title that appears destined to come down to the final weeks of the campaign.

Man City are three-time defending champions and, having won five of the last six titles, warm favourites to claim another crown.#

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Haaland, though, says there is one Arsenal player who would enhance Pep Guardiola’s side.

Asked if City would be a “better team” if his Norway teammate Martin Odegaard was a member of the squad, the 23-year-old replied: “Yes, I think so.

“There’s a good player, and a player that plays for our rivals.

“He’s just signed a new contract, so it’s not a topic, but at City we have a lot of best players in the world.”

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Odegaard better than De Bruyne

Odegaard would be expected to slot in as a No.10 in the Manchester City team, and according to data analysis firm SciSports, he would do so as a key player in Guardiola’s team.

The 25-year-old former Real Madrid player boasts a SciSkill – a rating given to every player based on hundreds of in-game data points – of 128.4.

Only three Man City players are currently better ranked. Haaland sits on 139.4, the best player in the world, while Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden also score better than the Arsenal man.

Interestingly, Odegaard is better ranked than Man City’s legendary No.10 Kevin De Bruyne, who has been troubled with injuries this season. He has seen his rating drop back to 118.9.

De Bruyne is the Premier League’s all-time leading assist maker but Odegaard is now taking over the mantle as the English top flight’s outstanding attacking midfielder.