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ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — Erling Haaland led Manchester City's celebrations after he netted the decisive goal in their gripping 2-1 win over Premier League title rivals Arsenal. Afterwards, he knew it was time to be boring.
Haaland's 23rd goal of the season in England's top flight settled matters midway through the second half at the Etihad Stadium, cutting Arsenal's advantage at the top of the table to three points.
It was another memorable encounter between the top two, with emotions riding high as they did after a 2-2 draw in September 2024, when Haaland famously told Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to "stay humble" after the final whistle with dripping sarcasm.
The 25-year-old repeated that catchphrase in a Sky Sports interview on Sunday, speaking alongside captain Bernardo Silva, and it was a similar story when he addressed reporters in the bowels of the stadium, knowing that a two-goal win over relegation-haunted Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday will edge City ahead at the summit.
"It’s boring but you have to focus game by game," he said. "Enjoy this but tomorrow you need to start thinking about Burnley. That’s the reality of this club in this title race, because the last weeks is when things get decided. After West Ham [a 1-1 draw at London Stadium last month] everybody wrote that it was over. That was the feeling.
"The whole of England watched this game [against Arsenal]. We know exactly the situation. We’re still second; we play on Wednesday. We’re calm. There are a few of us who have been in this situation before. A few new players, a lot of new players. It’s about staying calm and thinking about what you can do."
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Man City's Arsenal celebrations explained after Wayne Rooney criticism
There wasn't too much calm immediately after full-time at a buoyant Etihad, with Haaland striding around a lap of honour topless and with his hair down, leaning into any Viking warrior pretentions.
Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, speaking on BBC Match of the Day, labelled the celebrations "a little bit over the top… a little bit premature and it might come back to bite them".
Taken in isolation, perhaps they were scenes worthy of Sergeant Rooney and the Celebration Police. However, City have embarked upon a lap of honour after every single home win this season, part of a wider attempt to reset the mood in the squad after a sapping and trophyless 2024/25 campaign.
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City's Halloween Party theme was "I Know What You Did Last Season". Haaland was to the fore with his take on Heath Ledger's Joker, but has also taken on more mundane day-to-day leadership duties in a much-changed squad.
That is only likely to increase next season after talismanic captain Silva confirmed he will leave this summer, 12 months on from Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Ederson – all stalwarts of the Pep Guardiola era – heading through the exit door. Long-serving defender John Stones is out of contract in June, as is fellow centre-back Nathan Ake.
The likes of weekend goalscorer Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi are all chasing the first league title of their careers and Haaland acknowledges an infectious, almost naive, excitement from this contingent is a potent ingredient for a squad that has taken huge strides over recent weeks.
"Of course, it’s like when I came to the club," he said. "I learned a lot from the old players like John and Ederson, Riyad [Mahrez], the way they behaved when it came to a decisive moment. You need to stay calm and focus on what you can do. Stay calm, not think too much – which is the most difficult thing, because it gets heated at times and before the Arsenal game there was a lot of talk."
Haaland on Gabriel battle: My dad said 'don't be a p****'
It was never more heated than when Haaland and Arsenal centre-back Gabriel went blow for blow and, once literally, head to head in their own 90-minute tribute to Wrestlemania weekend.
The City striker grappled successfully with his tormentor to fire home the winning goal, while Haaland and Gabriel were both booked for a late confrontation when the Gunners defender appeared to aim a headbutt. That came after a prolonged tussle ended with Gabriel tearing Haaland's undershirt.
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"I think my shirt got a bit pulled," he chuckled. "I didn’t get the foul, this is the Premier League nowadays. It’s wrestling here and there. A lot of duels. A lot of scratches. Sometimes my missus is not so happy about this, it looks a bit wrong! But that’s the reality."
Haaalnd's bumps and bruises are also a topic of conversation with father Alfie, the former City, Leeds and Norway player. And Haaland Sr's influence was credited when his son was asked why he didn't fall to the floor to put pressure on referee Anthony Taylor following the Gabriel flashpoint.
"I think that is a red card, most of you agree with me on this. If I go down, it’s a red card," he added. "I would never do this. My father taught me this – stay on your feet and don’t be a… I cannot say the word, but it starts with P.
"That’s the reality. Maybe, yes, I should have gone down, maybe it would be easier, but I didn’t and I got a yellow card for it."
If City win at Burnley, there will be nothing between the title chasers. Get ready for a grapple all the way to the finish line.
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