One name has been on everyone’s lips – Erling Haaland. In the latest Premier League showdown between two soccer giants went, Arsenal emerged victorious with a slender 1-0 win over defending champions Manchester City. A late Gabriel Martinelli goal ended Arsenal’s eight-year wait for a league victory against the Citizens. The spotlight, however, shines brightest on Manchester City’s marquee striker, Erling Haaland.

Haaland’s performance has become a matter of concern for both fans and pundits. In recent matches, the Norwegian striker has struggled to find the back of the net, with just one goal in his last five appearances. The question everyone seems to be asking: is Erling Haaland to blame for Manchester City’s recent struggles?

Erling Haaland not getting enough service, claims experts

While it’s easy to point fingers at Haaland, former soccer stars turned pundits Shaka Hislop and Craig Burley have a different perspective on the situation. Burley argued, “I wouldn’t say he’s totally to blame, when there’s a lack of supply.” Hislop added on to Burley’s comments and stated, “I don’t think he is to blame at all. In all honesty, there were periods last season where he wasn’t getting much service; he wasn’t getting many touches of the ball and started to drop deep to get on the ball. And Guardiola came out and said, ‘I want Haaland to play on the shoulder of the defenders.‘”

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Hislop believe that Haaland is not to blame for his lack of goals, and instead point to the lack of service he is receiving from his teammates. “If he does that and he’s not getting the ball, you can’t then turn around and say, well it’s his fault for not dropping deep. So, I put this on City and the lack of service or more to the point, Pep Guardiola,” Hislop claimed.

When we delve deeper into the statistics and consider the circumstances surrounding Haaland’s misfiring performances, there are some surprising observations. Against Arsenal, Haaland’s expected goals (xG) stood at a dismal 0.00, and in the previous match against Wolves, it was only slightly better at 0.04. These numbers represent two of his three lowest xG readings since arriving at Etihad Stadium.

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However, it seems like Erling Haaland’s struggles are not solely of his own making. The responsibility also falls on the shoulders of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s midfield for failing to provide him with the necessary service. With Kevin de Bruyne injured and Rodri  suspended for Manchester City, it has become a challenge for Guardiola to ignite Haaland’s performances from the last season.

Guardiola needs to find a way to get Haaland more involved

Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world, but he has yet to find a way to get Haaland fully integrated into his system. The Spaniard is a tactical genius, but he needs to figure out how to get his best player on the ball more often. The success of any soccer team hinges on its ability to create goal-scoring opportunities. Although, Haaland has made a tainted record this season in terms of goal-scoring opportunities, he can’t be expected to perform miracles without adequate support.

If City hopes to regain their winning form, Guardiola must address the lack of service to his star striker. The Norwegian has already proven his ability to score goals at the highest level, and it’s now up to Guardiola to ensure that he’s given the opportunities to continue doing so.

Soccer is a team sport, and the success of any striker, no matter how talented, relies on the support of his teammates. Erling Haaland isn’t to ‘blame,’ but the lack of service certainly is, and it’s up to Manchester City to rectify this issue to get back on track in the Premier League.

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