Manchester City striker Erling Haaland insists he feels no added pressure ahead of a potential title‑deciding clash with Arsenal on Sunday, emphasizing that his side are playing with "nothing to lose" after spending much of the campaign playing catch‑up. City approach the decisive fixture, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, aware that a streak of seven consecutive victories could very likely hand them the Premier League crown at the Etihad, ending a year‑long spell without the trophy while Liverpool held sway.
Despite being the league's most prolific forward, Haaland has been under close scrutiny after scoring only once in his previous five Premier League outings. Yet he downplays the expectation that City must maintain their remarkable consistency in the final weeks to overturn Arsenal's six‑point advantage. "At the moment I'm pretty calm," he told Sky Sports from the Etihad Campus training ground. "We play one game a week, which is unusual for us.
It barely happens. Honestly, I don't feel a lot of nerves because we've been chasing all season and we have nothing to lose, so the pressure isn’t on me." He added that any pressure Arsenal might feel is their own business: "You’d have to ask Arsenal if they feel the pressure. I can’t talk about them. I can only talk about myself.
With me, I don’t feel a lot of pressure because we’re still far behind." If Haaland is to end his four‑game league goal drought, he will need to outwit Arsenal’s central defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba – a task he failed to accomplish in City’s 1‑1 draw at the Emirates earlier in the season. Haaland does have a respectable record against the Gunners, with five goals in ten appearances at the Etihad, but breaking down what many consider the Premier League’s strongest centre‑back partnership 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 good because it creates space for others.
It’s not easy playing with many opponents closing in, but it’s a nice fight. Playing against the best is something you want – it pushes you to improve." City managed to shake off the anxiety of knowing the title was within reach after a tense first half against Chelsea last weekend. They emerged after the break to score three goals in just 17 minutes, eventually winning 3‑0 at Stamford Bridge.
That victory came on the heels of Arsenal’s surprising home loss to Bournemouth 24 hours earlier – a result Haaland said turned every one of the club’s final eight games into a cup final. "It feels like a final," he explained. "Last weekend against Chelsea felt like a final as well. Honestly, we have a final every weekend for the next six weeks.
It’s a massive game, probably the biggest and best there will be, so we hope it will be an amazing spectacle. Everyone knows how important it is." At the conclusion of the Chelsea match, Haaland invited the young defender Abdukodir Khusanov to join the City celebrations, allowing the Uzbek international to receive applause from the away supporters in west London.
The 22‑year‑old Haaland has enjoyed an impressive season after a period of adaptation when he first arrived at Manchester City, and he is likely to start his eighth league game out of the last twelve against Arsenal this weekend. Although Haaland is only three years older than Khusanov, he said his gesture reflected a growing leadership role within the squad, drawing on his relative experience in top‑level football. "I think about the moment with Khusanov because he’s been amazing for us," Haaland said.
"It’s not easy for him, moving to a new country, not speaking the language, dealing with pressure as the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League." He continued: "I speak like I’m 35, but I’m only 25. I have a lot of experience, having played many games, so I understand different situations.
It’s about helping others because I know how tough it can be. I try to make them comfortable." Looking ahead, the clash with Arsenal is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 pm, with the kick‑off broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League. The match promises to be a pivotal moment in the title race, with City needing to close the six‑point gap and Arsenal aiming to maintain their lead.
Both teams will treat the encounter as a high‑stakes final, and fans can expect an intense battle featuring Haaland’s quest to end his goal drought against a formidable defensive line. Beyond the on‑field drama, the fixture also highlights the broader narratives of leadership, adaptation, and the pressure of chasing silverware in the Premier League’s closing stages. Whether Haaland can break his dry spell and City can secure the needed points will be key storylines that shape the remainder of the season.