‘Run through me’, Arsenal legend Martin Keown outlines how he would have dealt with Erling Haaland

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has outlined how he would have defended against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. 

The Norway superstar has looked imperious since his summer move to Manchester from Borussia Dortmund. 

To date, he has scored a total of 19 goals in 12 appearances across all competitions. It has been a scintillating start for the 22-year-old who has hit the ground running straight away. 

Haaland’s fine form will have sent shivers down the spines of many defenders around the continent as they wonder how to stop City’s goal machine. 

Former Arsenal man Keown has had his say on how he would have dealt with the Norwegian. 

He said on BBC’s Football Focus: “Well I was a contact defender. There are two types aren’t there you know, the ball player, who picks and chooses interceptions but I was always up against my opponent. 

“I would have been in his ear, telling him how poor he was. Your self-esteem has to be massive, you have to be on top of it but I’ll be bumping into him. 

“Some of those runs he makes he’ll have to run around me or through me because he’s not going to get to that ball because it has been made too easy for him.” 

Last month, prior to City’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, Keown also spoke about defending against Haaland. 

He said on talkSPORT: “I think what you have to do is be very aggressive when you play against this man. 

“You look at his skill set and he’s a giant, he’s obviously got a great leap. His hunger though, he’s got a burning ambition to score goals and he’s never satisfied. He’s dreaming about goals the whole time so you’ve got to be able to match that.

“You know of course it’s very difficult now because he’s getting that supply, they’re coming at you from all angles.” 

Keown added: “That first connection, you’ve got to be their worst nightmare, they can’t go away thinking they’ve enjoyed playing against you.

“I don’t think you can be nervous, you’ve got to be confident, you’ve got to commit.”

With 14 goals already to his name, Mohamed Salah’s record of 32 goals in one season could be smashed to pieces by Haaland come the end of the Premier League campaign.