Martin Keown slams Arsenal star over failure to deal with 'strutting' Haaland

27 April 2023 , 06:28

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Martin Keown slams Arsenal star over failure to deal with 'strutting' Haaland

Arsenal legend Martin Keown issued a scathing review of Rob Holding's performance during the humiliating 4-1 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The Gunners arrived at the Etihad knowing anything less than a win would spell trouble for their title hopes, yet were outclassed by their hosts from the first whistle. It took just six minutes for City to open the scoring, with Kevin De Bruyne guiding a pinpoint strike into the bottom corner of Aaron Ramsdale's net.

In the build-up to that goal, Holding tried desperately to pinch the ball off of Erling Haaland's boot, but failed miserably and allowed the City superstar to bring the ball down, turn and start an attack while the Gunners centre-back was now out of position.

William Saliba has been at the heart of the Arsenal backline for most of this season and rarely committed such an error, but his back injury means it was up to Holding to deputise and try to nullify City's star-studded attack.

Yet, that exchange with Haaland in the build-up to City's first goal showed the gulf in quality between the two. While analysing the moment, Keown insisted Holding should have simpy taken a yellow card and used it as a chance to try and impose himself on the striker.

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"If I was playing, Haaland would be all I was thinking about," Keown told BT Sport. "Holding lost that battle. The very first challenge, that’s where they concede the first goal.

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Rob Holding failed to deal with Erling Haaland as Man City made light work of Arsenal

"You’ve got to put your marker down, you’ve got to be physical, maybe take a booking. But Haaland is just strutting around that pitch and it looked really easy at times.

"That’s something these young Arsenal defenders are going to have to learn, and learn quickly."

Goals from John Stones and Haaland either side of De Bruyne adding his second emphasised City's dominance, though it was Holding who netted Arsenal's consolation goal with a composed finish inside the penalty area.

After the game, Arteta could not deny his side had been outclassed.

"The analysis is clear: the better team won the game," the Arsenal boss conceded. "They were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level.

"When that happens, the gap becomes too big and in the first 30 minutes we didn’t do all the basic things that you have to do against an exceptional team, in terms of competing, winning duels and understanding what the game requires."

Josh O'Brien