Does Erling Haaland Need to Improve His Play Without the Ball?

Thierry Henry criticized Erling Haaland lack of off-ball movement in Manchester City 5-1 loss to Arsenal. Despite scoring his 25th goal of the season, Haaland only made two passes and had three touches in the second half. His stationary positioning made it easy for Arsenal to defend, and his lack of variation in movement limited City attacking options.

Manchester City is facing questions about Erling Haaland's role off the ball, despite his impressive goal-scoring record. After City’s 5-1 loss to Arsenal, Thierry Henry criticized Haaland for not utilizing his pace and movement to exploit spaces behind the opposition’s defense. Although Haaland scored his 25th goal of the season, his performance in that match raised concerns as he completed only two passes and had just three touches after half-time.

This marks his 22nd game with fewer than five passes in a single match.

While Haaland excels in the penalty area, his lack of involvement in build-up play is a concern, particularly when City struggles to break down opposition defenses. In the Arsenal match, Haaland often stuck to one defender, allowing Arsenal's backline to keep track of him. His lack of movement created difficulties for City in progressing the ball and finding spaces.

Despite his strengths, Haaland's off-the-ball movement has been questioned, especially in difficult games. His tendency to stay close to defenders limits his potential to disrupt opposition defenses, and he could improve by making more decoy runs or exploiting spaces behind defenders when opportunities arise.