‘That is Complete Devastation…’: Man Utd Icon Responds to Erling Haaland Matching Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester City and Arsenal staged a stunning 2-2 draw in an exciting match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 22, 2024. In the ninth minute Erling Haaland started the home team's score; nevertheless, Riccardo Calafiori quickly equalised Arsenal in the 22nd minute. Just before half, the game changed dramatically when Gabriel Magalhães put Arsenal ahead in the 45th minute and Leandro Trossard of Manchester City was sent off in the 45+8th minute. John Stones rescued a draw for Manchester City with a spectacular equaliser in the 90+8th minute, therefore extending the action into stoppage time. While Arsenal showed perseverance with only 22% possession and 5 shots, Manchester City dominated possession with 78% and registered 33 shots in the game, therefore displaying amazing statistics.

Also Read: Why Cristiano Ronaldo was Absent in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 Win Over Al-Hazem?

Gary Neville opines on Erling Haaland equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible record 

After Erling Haaland equalled one of Cristiano Ronaldo's stats on September 22, Manchester United legend Gary Neville has praised the striker. Haaland scored his 100th goal in an exciting 2-2 draw against Arsenal in his 105th Manchester City game.

With this success, Haaland joins Ronaldo in the record books as the quickest player to reach 100 goals for a club, a mark Ronaldo attained in 2011 while at Real Madrid in the same amount of games. However, it is important to note that Cristiano Ronaldo achieved this feat in prime La Liga as a winger.

Dominating the current generation Haaland had an opportunity earlier, during a Champions League game against Inter Milan on September 18, to break Ronaldo's record, but he missed because the game came off with a goalless draw. Still, the 24-year-old made his mark against Arsenal by scored his first goal in just the ninth minute. With his best start to a Premier League campaign so, this goal was his tenth in five league games this season.

Neville said in his Sky Sports commentary his respect of Haaland's extraordinary achievement. Gary Neville said: 

“That is complete and utter devastation in footballing terms! Brilliant from Savinho but as soon as you see Haaland point to that space, the acceleration from the two best centre backs in the country is unbelievable. The poke past Raya is dismissive."

Erling Haaland will miss the next match of Manchester City which is against Watford on Thursday, September 25, 2024, in the 3rd Round of the EFL Cup. According to several reports, his absence is due to some compassionate holiday as he travelled to Norway.