Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland insists he feels no extra pressure ahead of the crucial showdown with Arsenal on Sunday, emphasizing that his team are playing with "nothing to lose" after spending much of the campaign trailing the league leaders. City head into the decisive fixture, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, aware that a streak of seven victories in as many matches would virtually guarantee the Premier League crown returns to the Etihad after a year’s hiatus in Liverpool. Yet the usually confident goal‑getter, who has been under intense scrutiny after managing just one goal in his previous five league outings, downplays the expectation that City will sustain their remarkable consistency in the final weeks and overturn Arsenal’s six‑point advantage.
"At the moment I’m pretty relaxed," Haaland told Sky Sports from the Etihad Campus training ground. "We have one game a week, which is unusual for us. It barely ever happens.
Honestly, I don’t feel a lot of nerves because we have been chasing all season and we have nothing to lose, so there’s no pressure on me." He added that the pressure might be more on the Gunners: "You’d have to ask Arsenal if they feel the pressure. I can’t talk about them. I can only speak for myself.
For me, I don’t feel a huge amount of pressure because we’re still behind." If Haaland hopes to end his four‑game league drought, he will need to outwit Arsenal’s defensive pair Gabriel and William Saliba – a task he failed to accomplish when City were held to a 1‑1 draw at the Emirates earlier in the season. Haaland does boast an impressive record of five goals in ten appearances against the Gunners at the Etihad, but the Norwegian will have to work hard to find space against what many consider the Premier League’s strongest central‑defensive partnership. He reflected on the challenge: "It’s always a battle.
They usually have a lot of players around me, which can be good for me because it creates space. It isn’t easy playing with many defenders 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 weight of a title that now feels within reach after a nervy first half at Chelsea, only to explode in the second half with three goals in 17 minutes and secure a comfortable 3‑0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
That win came just 24 hours after Arsenal suffered a surprising home loss to Bournemouth, a result Haaland said turned every one of the club’s remaining eight games into a cup final in his mind. "It feels like a final every weekend now," he explained.
"Last weekend against Chelsea felt like a final as well. Let’s be honest – we have a final each weekend for the next six weeks. It’s a massive game, probably the biggest and best match we’ll play, so we hope it will be an amazing spectacle. We all understand the importance of this fixture." 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 gesture highlighted Haaland’s growing leadership role within the squad, despite being only 22 years old and just three years older than Khusanov. "I think about that moment with Khusanov because he’s been amazing for us," Haaland said.
"It isn’t easy for him, moving to a new country, not speaking the 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 experienced a lot of football situations.
It’s about helping others, making them comfortable, and sharing the knowledge I’ve gained." Haaland’s season has been remarkable after a period of adaptation 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 testament to the trust manager Pep Guardiola places in his abilities.
Looking ahead, the Norwegian striker acknowledges that the next six weeks will feel like a series of finals, with each match carrying the weight of a title decider. Yet his calm demeanor suggests that City’s chase for the trophy will be driven more by confidence than anxiety. As he put it, "We have nothing to lose, so the pressure is on the opposition, not on us." Fans can tune in to the Manchester City versus Arsenal clash on Sunday at 4 pm on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick‑off scheduled for 4.30 pm.
The match promises to be a defining moment in the title race, and Haaland’s composure may prove pivotal as City aim to close the gap on the Gunners and reclaim the Premier League crown.