Haaland ‘the striker we needed,’ says City goalkeeper Ederson

MANCHESTER – Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson dismissed suggestions that Erling Haaland’s arrival has blunted the champions, despite his phenomenal goal rate.

The 22-year-old Norwegian striker has scored an unprecedented 28 goals in his

rst 25 games for second-placed City, but they remain ve points behind English Premier League leaders Arsenal, having played a game more.

This has led some to suggest that, despite adding the best No. 9 of his generation in the summer, City have lost something in their game which, before Haaland’s arrival, often involved Pep Guardiola’s side playing without a recognised centre-forward.

However, ahead of their Premier League clash against a resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, City’s Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson told the club’s website: “Haaland has been showing what he’s all about since (his time at) Borussia (Dortmund) – he had great seasons there, so it’s not news for us.

“Of course, when he arrived, we said he was going to score a lot – and that’s been happening.

“He is a brilliant goalscorer, he always looks to

LONDON – Arsenal’s new signing Leandro Trossard will likely be ready for selection against Manchester United on Sunday, coach Mikel Arteta said on Friday, adding that he believed the Belgium international would have an immediate impact on the team.

The 28-year-old winger arrived at the English Premier League leaders on Friday from Brighton & Hove Albion on a reported 4½-year deal for a transfer fee of £27 million (S$44.2 million). Arsenal were pipped to the signature of Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk by London rivals Chelsea a week before.

“We are really happy to have him. He’s a player we followed for a while. The opportunity came and we had the necessity for a player in the front line who is versatile enough to play in a di erent score and help the team. He is the striker we needed.

“Haaland plays more centrally, looking to get into the box, he is a target in the area. That has been the major di erence. Sometimes, you get into the nal third and you have someone who will always be in the area.

“Many people say most of the goals he scores are easy – but that is a lie. It’s his positioning – he positions himself very well. That’s his best ability.

“So, he doesn’t score easy goals, he positions himself well. I hope he continues to score many goals, making us happy and we’ll keep working together for all the titles.” Despite City playing catch-up in the title race, their 18-year-old fullback Rico Lewis insists “there is still plenty of time to come back”. He added: “It is the same City that has won the Premier League four times (in ve years), and we’re not here to mess about.” The teen, who has featured 12 times this season, scoring once, has not messed about since being handed his chance position,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.

“He is a player that ts our way of playing for sure, and we are happy to have him.”

Trossard, who played for Belgium at the recent World Cup, scored seven times in 16 Premier League matches for Brighton this season, including a hat-trick at Liverpool in October.

The winger’s four-year spell at Brighton ended acrimoniously after his agent requested a transfer following a row with Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi.

De Zerbi said the former Genk player “disappeared” from training after being told he would not be playing in Brighton’s FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough earlier in January.

Trossard was subsequently left out of the squad for Brighton’s Premier League match against Liverpool by Guardiola.

He said: “Every game for me is just a massive surprise. I don’t expect to play any games so the games that I have been able to play already – it’s just overwhelming really.

“Obviously I feel like I belong but not really like I’m part of the team – I’m just playing with them.”

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher, however, feels Lewis certainly belongs at City, calling him a “perfect t” for Guardiola’s system.

He told Sky Sports: “It’s not just playing the position he’s playing – it’s his tactical understanding to go into mid eld. He’s playing ahead of England’s right-back (Kyle Walker)... He’s the perfect t.”

Former City and England fullback Micah Richards added: “Technically, he is fantastic... When Walker burst on to the scene at Spurs, he was a marauding fullback. He has learnt a di erent system.

“Lewis has been brought up through this new one, and that’s why he looks so comfortable.”

Lewis is City’s only injury doubt after coming o late on during their 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday with a minor ankle issue.

Sixteenth-placed Wolves will be without the injured Sasa Kalajdzic, Pedro Neto, Boubacar Traore and Chiquinho but new signings Mario Lemina and Pablo Sarabia could make their debuts. Straitstimes

last weekend, which they won 3-0.

De Zerbi said: “I’m sorry for the last period, but I still would like to wish Leandro good luck for the future.”

United are on a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions and are the only team to beat Arsenal in the Premier League so far this season, earning a 3-1 victory at Old Tra ord in September.

“There were some important lessons in that game and why we lost it when, in many moments, we had control of the game,” Arteta said.

“But we know that’s one of the qualities of United – when you have control of the game, the match can get away from you because they have so much individual talent, they have good organisation and they have many ways to create problems.”— Straitstimes