Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Man Cityvs.Arsenal

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 September 2024, 17:09
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be out to add another goalscoring record to his ever-growing collection against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, breaking his own feat in the process.

With the exception of Wednesday's goalless draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League, the 24-year-old has been in irrepressible form during the embryonic stages of the 2024-25 season.

From just four Premier League matches, Haaland already has a phenomenal nine strikes to his name, the most any player has managed in the first four games of an English top-flight season since 1992.

Thanks to his brace against Brentford last weekend, which came after he turned down compassionate leave for the death of a close family friend, Haaland broke Wayne Rooney's four-game record, having also notched hat-tricks against West Ham United and Ipswich Town after bagging one against Chelsea.

Before the start of the weekend, Haaland's nine Premier League goals was more than any of the other 19 teams in the division, and the ex-Borussia Dortmund striker is chasing more history this weekend.

Haaland aiming to break own record and equal Luis Suarez feat

Should Haaland find the back of the net against the Gunners, the Norway international will become the first Premier League player to score at least 10 goals in the first five games of a new season.

The quickest any player has reached double figures in a Premier League season is six games, and one of those was Haaland himself, who hit 10 goals in six matches during his debut season in 2022-23.

Long before Haaland was born, Mick Quinn hit 10 goals in six games during the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93 while at Coventry City, although two goals or more would see the Scandinavian hit another landmark.

If the 24-year-old scores at least a brace on Sunday, he will become just the second player to net multiple goals in four consecutive Premier League matches after Luis Suarez for Liverpool in 2013-14.

That year, the Uruguayan hit four goals in a 5-1 win over Norwich City, before bagging doubles in three straight matches against West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City in the same month.

Man City chasing team record in Arsenal clash

While Haaland chases individual milestones, Man City could also set a new record by beating Arsenal, which would make them the first team in the history of the English top flight to win their first five games of a season on five different occasions.

The Citizens were handed an early boost in their bid to move five points clear of Arsenal, as Pep Guardiola said in his press conference that Kevin De Bruyne "could" be available despite picking up a groin concern against Inter Milan.

However, reports have claimed that the Belgian will not be risked for the visit of the Gunners, who are without their own chief creator in Martin Odegaard due to his ankle injury.

City and Arsenal are separated by just one place and two points in the Premier League table, although both sides were knocked down one by Liverpool on Saturday, as the Reds beat Bournemouth 3-0 to rise to top spot.

Top News

28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly planning to move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong next year, with a deal during the January transfer window not being ruled out. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly be in the mix to sign Marc Guehi next year, with Crystal Palace expected to find it incredibly difficult to keep the centre-back beyond the end of the current season. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wojciech Szczesny has reportedly not been guaranteed the number one spot at Barcelona for the 2024-25 campaign, with the experienced goalkeeper potentially being back-up to Inaki Pena at the club. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles (Sunday, 12.30am) Fresh off the back of clinching the 2024 US Open Cup title, Los Angeles FC return to action in the MLS when they journey to the TQL Stadium to face FC Cincinnati on Saturday. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crawley vs. Bolton (Saturday, 12.30pm) Crawley Town welcome Bolton Wanderers in League One on Saturday, and while both sides will be hoping to give their season a much-needed shot in the arm, the hosts will be reeling from the news that manager Scott Lindsey has left the club to join MK Dons. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Samsunspor vs. Goztepe SK (Saturday, 2.00pm) Samsunspor are looking to maintain their fine start to the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig season when they take on Goztepe SK at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estrela Amadora vs. Moreirense (Saturday, 3.30pm) Winless Estrela Amadora host out-of-form Moreirense at Estadio Jose Gomes in Saturday's Primeira Liga action, keen to end their unwanted six-match drought in gameweek seven. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Willem II vs. PSV (Saturday, 3.30pm) PSV Eindhoven will be out to maintain their perfect Eredivisie record this weekend when they travel to take on Willem II at the Koning Willem II Stadion on Saturday afternoon. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Getafe vs. Alaves (Saturday, 1.00pm) Alaves will be bidding to continue their strong start to the 2024-25 campaign when they head to Madrid on Saturday afternoon to tackle a struggling Getafe outfit. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Udinese vs. Inter Milan (Saturday, 2.00pm) After derby defeat stopped them topping the Serie A standings, Inter Milan will attempt to bounce back immediately when they visit Udinese on Saturday. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig vs. Augsburg (Saturday, 2.30pm) RB Leipzig are set to host Augsburg at Red Bull Arena on Saturday in each side's fifth Bundesliga game of the season. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lens vs. Nice (Saturday, 4.00pm) Two clubs looking to challenge for the top four in Ligue 1 meet at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, when Nice travel to Lens. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee vs. Aberdeen (Saturday, 3.00pm) Aberdeen will head to Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park on Saturday afternoon to face Dundee for matchday six of the Scottish Premiership, looking to maintain their flawless start to the season. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Blackburn vs. QPR (Saturday, 12.30pm) Blackburn Rovers play host to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten record in the Championship to seven matches. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle vs. Man City (Saturday, 12.30pm) Manchester City will endeavour to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle United on Saturday lunchtime. 28 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami boss Tata Martino has provided an update on Lionel Messi's fitness ahead of Saturday's MLS meeting with Charlotte FC. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After seeing their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig season come to an end last time out, Eyupspor will do battle against Gaziantep at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadyumu on Sunday. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur Women will attempt to claim a second straight victory when they travel to Villa Park for Sunday's clash with Aston Villa Women. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacional will be seeking to pick up their first away win of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign when they go head to head with Famalicao at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on Sunday. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory lock horns at the MAC3PARK Stadion on Sunday as PEC Zwolle entertain the challenge of Almere City. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last-placed Holstein Kiel are set to host Eintracht Frankfurt at Holstein-Stadion on Sunday in each side's fifth Bundesliga game of the season. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly deployed scouts to keep an eye on Freiburg midfield talent Merlin Rohl, who has only just signed a new contract with the Bundesliga side. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham forward Raul Jimenez will attempt to follow in Javier Hernandez's footsteps in Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoffenheim will look to bounce back from three consecutive league defeats when they host Werder Bremen at PreZero Arena on Sunday in their fifth Bundesliga match of the season. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has reportedly not been seen with the rest of the squad at the team hotel ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester City. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara will be looking to make it three home wins on the bounce when they welcome Boavista to the Estadio de Sao Miguel in round seven of the Primeira Liga on Sunday. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a spiky response to former colleague and friend Mikel Arteta as the fallout from last weekend's fiery 2-2 Premier League draw continues. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women and Liverpool Women will both be looking to claim their first win of the season when they face off in Sunday's Women's Super League contest. 27 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United Women will be looking to clinch a second straight victory when they travel to Walton Hall Park for Sunday's Women's Super League meeting with Everton Women.