Zero Shots In Their Last 2 Duels! Erling Haaland Vs William Saliba Stats Compared Before Manchester City Vs Arsenal

We are less than 24 hours away from the highly anticipated clash between Manchester City and Arsenal. Both teams will be desperate for a win, with the fixture likely to determine the fate of the Premier League. With the stage set and the stakes at an all-time high, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian has been the driving force behind his club’s success. Despite missing a chunk of the season, the striker continues to be the highest goal scorer this season, with 18 goals to his name. With ten games left in the campaign, it wouldn’t be surprising if the player fires into form to go past the 30-goal mark. However, the clash against the Gunners could be his most demanding challenge. While the London-based club at times has had trouble stopping the big man, the story flips on his head whenever William Saliba is present in their playing eleven. One could say he’s Haaland’s kryptonite!

William Saliba seems to have Erling Haaland in his pocket!

Haaland and Saliba have faced each other twice this season, and both times, the defender has had the Norwegian’s number. While it’s hard imagining Erling Haaland’s struggle against center backs as he’s used to brushing them off like dominos, Saliba seems to have the perfect counter. The Manchester City star has failed to generate a single shot against the Gunners whenever William Saliba starts for the team. To add more to his woes, he has lost possession on eight occasions while losing three aerial duels.

In fact, William Saliba was so valuable throughout their last outing that he stopped Haaland from even getting a single touch inside the box. Additionally, Saliba did not lose a single duel during the contest, maintaining a 100% success rate. The defender also had a great game with the ball at his feet, completing 97% of his passes.

Despite Erling Haaland’s physical presence, the Frenchman did not shy away from taking it to the attacker. The game at the Emirates saw the defender put Haaland on the ground with a perfect body check, leaving fans raving at his performance, with the player earning an 8.2 rating for his endeavors. However, with the game this time at the Norwegian’s home ground, it will be interesting to see if William Saliba can repeat his heroics.

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Can Haaland break away from Saliba’s domination?

The numbers don’t lie as well, with William Saliba pinning down Erling Haaland during their two face-to-face encounters. If Manchester City wants any chance of getting an upper hand over Arsenal, their number nine will have to find a way to get past the Frenchman. Meanwhile, Arsenal will once again bank on their star defender to lock down the Norwegian in his vice grip.

Who do you think will win the duel between Erling Haaland and William Saliba? Let us know in the comments below.

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