REVEALED: How Saliba and Gabriel embarrassed Haaland in win over Manchester City

In a stunning display of defensive prowess, Arsenal’s young defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães left Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland embarrassed and frustrated in their recent Premier League clash. The embarrassing stat that emerged from the game was that Haaland accumulated an xG (expected goals) rating of 0.00 against Arsenal.

The Emirates Stadium erupted with joy as Arsenal ended their 12-game losing streak against City in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Despite missing the influential Buyako Saka due to injury, it was the fit-again Gabriel Martinelli who emerged as the hero. Coming on at halftime, Martinelli’s 86th-minute deflected finish off Nathan Ake proved to be the difference in a tightly contested match between two title contenders.

This win serves as a statement for Mikel Arteta’s side, who currently sit in second position on the Premier League table with 20 points in the 2023/24 campaign. The victory over Manchester City gives them a much-needed boost going into the international break.

The standout performers of the game were undoubtedly Saliba and Magalhães, who formed an impenetrable defensive partnership that kept Haaland at bay throughout the match. Haaland, who is currently the Premier League’s top scorer with eight goals, found himself frustrated and unable to find any openings against Arsenal’s resolute defense.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Gabriel of Arsenal holds off Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on October 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

The embarrassing stat of Haaland accumulating an xG rating of 0.00 highlights just how effective Saliba and Magalhães were in nullifying one of the league’s most prolific strikers. Their solid positioning, anticipation, and ability to win crucial duels ensured that Haaland had no opportunities to showcase his goal-scoring prowess.

Arsenal will now look ahead to their next challenge against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after the international break. With their confidence boosted by this impressive victory over Manchester City, Arteta’s side will be eager to continue their winning momentum and stake their claim as genuine title contenders this season.

In conclusion, Arsenal’s pair of defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães embarrassed Erling Haaland by preventing him from registering any expected goals in their crucial 1-0 win over Manchester City. This result has given Arsenal a much-needed statement win going into the international break and sets them up for an exciting clash against Chelsea in two weeks’ time.