Erling Haaland makes Dream Team history while Kevin De Bruyne reclaims midfield throne
MANCHESTER CITY vs Arsenal was billed as a climatic title-decider between two top teams.
In reality, the contest resembled bottom-half club’s typical visit to the Etihad.
A meeting between title contenders is supposed to feel different but what occurred on Wednesday night was all too familiar; Pep Guardiola’s side dominated, Kevin De Bruyne’s (£8.1m) class shone through, and Erling Haaland (£9.9m) scored.
Same old, same old.
The Gunners still hold a two-point lead over City but the latter have two games in hand and a more favourable set to fixtures to boot.
The Fat Lady isn’t singing just yet but she’s finished her vocal warm-ups and the sound check is complete.
City’s performance was a monumental one in the context of Dream Team as well.
Their two central protagonists, De Bruyne and Haaland, both made significant moves after ripping through Arsenal’s core time and time again.
The brilliant Belgian scored twice and provided the pinpoint cross for John Stones’ (£5.8m) header while the prolific poacher notched two assists before he bagged his customary goal in stoppage time once he’d let his hair down, quite literally.
That late strike helped Haaland leapfrog his team-mate in the match ratings to claim the Star Man award, his ninth of the season – the joint-highest tally of 2022/23.
When all was said and done, the 22-year-old added 17 points to his total to take him past an historic milestone.
Haaland is now officially just the second player in Dream Team history to pass 400 points in a single season (403 and counting).
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first quadruple centurion and his all-time record of 477 points is under serious threat with City’s No9 still active in three competitions.
The defending English champions have seven league fixtures remaining, at least two Champions League games, and an FA Cup final to fulfil.
Given that Haaland averages 9.6 points-per-game, the legendary Portuguese forward should fear for his record’s safety.
As for De Bruyne, a 15-point haul at the Gunners’ expense meant he reclaimed the midfield throne from Bruno Fernandes (£6.7m).
Man United’s midfield talisman travels to Spurs this evening but he’ll need seven points to draw level with his cross-town rival on 227.
It’s worth noting that De Bruyne’s average of 5.5 points-per-game is in a bracket of its own among assets in his position to have played a substantial number of games – Fernandes’ is 4.4 by comparison.
Haaland reaching milestones and De Bruyne reigning supreme among midfielders is hardly fresh news but for both of them to stamp their authority on the title race and Dream Team in the same night is quite something.
Good luck to any gaffers trying to make it to the end of the season without both of City’s main men in their XI… you’re going to need it.