Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has made it clear that he does not feel any extra pressure ahead of what could turn into a title‑deciding clash with Arsenal on Sunday. The Norwegian forward explained that, after spending most of the campaign playing catch‑up, his team are in a position where they have "nothing to lose" and can therefore approach the game with a calm mindset. City head into the pivotal match, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, knowing that a streak of seven consecutive victories would virtually guarantee the Premier League crown returns to the Etihad after a year‑long interlude at Liverpool. Despite the high stakes, Haaland, who has been under intense scrutiny after scoring only once in his previous five league outings, downplayed the expectation that City must maintain their extraordinary consistency in the final weeks to overturn Arsenal's six‑point advantage.
"At the moment I'm quite calm," Haaland told Sky Sports from the club's Etihad Campus training ground. "We have one game a week, which is unusual for us.
It hardly ever happens. Honestly, I don't feel a lot of nerves because we've been chasing all season and we have nothing to lose, so there is no pressure on me." He added that any pressure would more likely be on Arsenal, not City. "You would have to ask Arsenal if they feel the pressure. I can't speak for them.
I can only speak for myself. As for me, I don't feel a huge amount of pressure because we are still behind." To end his personal goal drought, Haaland will need to outwit Arsenal's central defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba – a task he failed to accomplish in the 1‑1 draw at the Emirates earlier in the season.
While the Norwegian boasts an impressive record of five goals in ten appearances against the Gunners at the Etihad, breaking down what many consider the best central‑defensive partnership in the league will require extra effort and clever movement. He reflected on the challenge: "It's always a battle. They usually have a lot of players around me, which can be a good thing because it creates space for others. It's not easy to play with many opponents closing in, but it's an exciting fight.
Playing against the best is something you want – it pushes you to improve." City managed to shake off the weight of the title race last weekend after a tense first half against Chelsea, only to erupt in the second period with three goals in 17 minutes, sealing a comfortable 3‑0 victory at Stamford Bridge. That win came after Arsenal suffered a surprising home loss to Bournemouth just 24 hours earlier, a result Haaland said turned every one of the club's remaining eight games into a "cup final" scenario.
"It feels like a final every weekend now," he explained. "Last weekend's match against Chelsea felt like a final, and the same will be true against Arsenal. For the next six weeks we will have a final every single weekend.
This is a massive game – probably the biggest and the best game of the season – and we hope it will be an amazing spectacle. Everyone understands how important it is." At the end of the Chelsea fixture, Haaland invited young defender Abdukodir Khusanov to join the City celebrations, acknowledging the Uzbek's bravery in front of a hostile West London crowd. Haaland, only three years older than Khusanov, highlighted his growing leadership role within the squad, noting that his own experience in the game helps him support newer teammates. "I think about the moment with Khusanov because he has been fantastic for us," Haaland said.
"It hasn't been easy for him, moving to a new country, learning a new language, dealing with the pressure of being the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League. I may be 25, but I speak like I'm 35 because I've been through many situations.
It's about helping others, making them comfortable, and sharing what I've learned." The 22‑year‑old Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable season after a period of adjustment when he first arrived at City. He is expected to start his eighth league appearance out of the last twelve against Arsenal this weekend, a match that could decide the fate of the title race. If he can rediscover his scoring touch and break his four‑game league drought, City will be in an even stronger position to chase the trophy. Overall, Haaland's calm demeanor, combined with his acknowledgement of the team's underdog status and his willingness to support younger teammates, paints a picture of a player who is both confident and grounded.
As the season reaches its climax, all eyes will be on the Etihad forward to see whether he can lead City past Arsenal and secure the Premier League crown for the first time since 2022.