Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been told they should “fear” in-form Manchester City striker Erling Haaland as the Premier League title race hots up. The Norway international has been in remarkable form for club and country in 2025-26, with one Premier League legend declaring he may just be in the midst of one of the greatest individual seasons of all time.
Getty Images SportArsenal have made excellent start in quest for Premier League title
Arsenal have made a promising start in their bid to win their first league title since the 2003-04 campaign. The Gunners have won six of their eight top-flight games this season, recording victories over Manchester United, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, West Ham and Fulham. Boasting impressive strength in depth following a busy summer which saw the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres arrive at the Emirates Stadium, the north London club have conceded just three league goals – the lowest amount in the league.
AdvertisementGunners warned over Haaland's remarkable form for City and Norway
However, despite Arsenal’s fine form, Arteta’s men have been warned their quest to claim major silverware this season will be put to the test by Haaland and City. Considered third favourites for the league title by many bookmakers before the start of the season, Pep Guardiola’s men currently sit second, three points behind Arsenal and one above fellow contenders Liverpool, thanks to Haaland’s rich vein of goalscoring form. The 25-year-old is the league’s current top goalscorer, having netted 11 times in just eight games, while he has also scored four goals in three Champions League appearances this season. Haaland has also carried his club form onto the international stage, scoring a hat-trick against Israel earlier this month to put Norway on the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Getty Images SportCarragher says Haaland is the 'most lethal finisher of his generation'
And having already called him the greatest goalscorer in English football history, following his decisive goal in City’s 1-0 win over Brentford earlier this month, Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has now labelled Haaland as “the most lethal finisher of his generation” and the biggest threat to Arsenal’s hopes of clinching this season’s league title.
In his column in Carragher said: “Arsenal came into this season worried about Liverpool being the major obstacle to ending a 21-year title wait. Now their biggest fear might be Erling Haaland.
“Where Arsenal have the best squad among the contenders and Liverpool must fix well-documented issues, Manchester City have the most influential player and dynamic attacker. The Norwegian is the biggest reason why Pep Guardiola’s side have a great chance of reclaiming their crown. Without him, City’s most realistic target would be finishing in the top four.
“City’s performance against Everton last weekend was relatively average for a Guardiola side. Haaland’s double elevated them to victory.
“When a title-challenging side looks so dependent on one footballer, usually that is a source for concern. Guardiola will feel blessed. Haaland is so good he can be the difference every time he plays. He is the most lethal finisher of this generation, which is why he is already worthy of comparison with past legends.
“I stand by my claim that Haaland is already the greatest goalscorer we have ever seen in England.”
Haaland told he is on course for one of football's best individual seasons
Despite a disappointing 2024-25 season which saw Haaland fail to lift any major silverware with City, the former Borussia Dortmund forward still scored 34 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions. However, Haaland was ultimately named 26th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or list, something which Carragher believes was “ridiculous”.
But the City hitman could be a strong contender for next year's Ballon d’Or award, should he continue his scintillating form in front of goal this season, which Carragher says would equate to one of the greatest individual campaigns in football history.
“In the last Ballon d’Or vote, Haaland was 26th on the list," said Carragher. "That is ridiculous, even when accounting for City’s disappointing season.
“Haaland finished second to Lionel Messi when City won the treble. Had he been a Real Madrid player missing out after scoring 52 goals in 53 games in a Champions League-winning season, there probably would have been a club boycott of the ceremony.
“Everything we have seen so far suggests Haaland is on course to eclipse these numbers, with Dixie Dean’s record of 60 goals in a single campaign under threat.
“There is also the mouth-watering prospect that Haaland will play in a major international tournament for the first time, with Norway on the brink of World Cup qualification. They would be a team to avoid in the United States because of their striker.
“Haaland might be in the midst of one of the most extraordinary individual seasons ever for club and country.”
