IT’S HAAL IN A GOOD DAY’S WORK

Unstoppable Erling looks a shoo-in for another Golden Boot

- BY SIMON BAJKOWSKI

ERLING HAALAND netted twice at the Etihad to stretch his lead to seven in the race for the Golden Boot and reduce Arsenal's lead to six at the top of the Premier League.

It may seem inevitable for a raw, milk-swigging colossus of a striker who has ripped up goalscoring records for fun since he arrived at Manchester City, but it is remarkable how so much continues to be about Haaland.

Pep Guardiola's side won the Treble just months after one of the leading pundits claimed the striker had joined the wrong team.

And after years of commentators trying to suggest the Norwegian has made City less effective, this season the claims are they are now playing too much to his strengths.

He is now so good that Haaland is seen as the only source of City goals. If opponents can stop him, they can stop the team - that's the argument.