Roy Keane has made a remarkable reversal on his assessment of Erling Haaland, after previously savaging the Manchester City striker’s all-round game and likening him to a lower-league footballer.
The Manchester United legend was scathing in March 2024 after a goalless draw between City and Arsenal at the Etihad, arguing that Haaland’s general play fell far short of elite level.
“The level of his [Haaland’s] general play is so poor – and it’s not just today,” Keane fumed on Sky Sports at the time.
“He’s laying stuff off, headers or whatever it might be. In front of goal, he’s the best in the world, but for his general play, for such a player, it is so poor – not just today.
“He has to improve that. He’s almost like a League Two player – that’s the way I look at him.
“His general play has to improve. It will do over the next few years. Brilliant striker, but he has to improve his overall game.”
Fast forward to this weekend’s reverse fixture at the Emirates and Keane was in a very different mood, describing the Norwegian as “the best in the business” ahead of kick-off and praising his sharpness, hunger and growing influence.
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Roy Keane has now admitted that Erling Haaland is the 'best in the business' amid his sensational form for Man City this season
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“Yeah, he looks sharp. He’s the best in the business, isn’t he?” said Keane.
“I’m sure he must be glad to have Phil Foden coming back into good form because he gave him an assist the other night in the European game that not many players would have been able to do. So you know he is going to get decent service.
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Erling Haaland scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season for Man City on Sunday in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal
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“He looks lean and he looks hungry and things are obviously going well for him at international level as well. He obviously still needs that little bit of service.
“You want these lads to turn up for the big games and that’s what he tends to do. He has a big, big say today in how the game goes. Top player.”
Keane’s new verdict came just minutes before Haaland delivered the perfect response on the pitch.
Within ten minutes of kick-off against Arsenal, the forward raced onto a City counter-attack and calmly slotted home his seventh goal in six matches this season, underlining his status as one of football’s most devastating finishers.
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Gabriel Martinelli struck late to earn Arsenal a draw against Man City
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City looked as though they'd be able to close out the contest.
Late on, however, Gabriel Martinelli struck to earn Arsenal a draw with a beautiful dink over Gianluigi Donnarumma in the third minute of injury time.
Haaland and City will be seeking a return to winning ways when they do battle with Huddersfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (7.45pm).
As for Arsenal, they're next in action against Port Vale that same night (8pm).