'League Two player': Erling Haaland mocked by Roy Keane and Gary Neville for off day in Manchester City draw against Arsenal

Erling Haaland looks dejected after missing a chance in Manchester City's Premier League match against Bournemouth in November 2023.
Erling Haaland drew a blank against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening (Image credit: Getty Images)

Erling Haaland has been mocked by Roy Keane and Gary Neville after an off-colour performance for Manchester City in their goalless draw against Arsenal on Sunday.

Haaland missed a glorious chance to win the match in the 83rd minute when a corner was flicked into his path at the back post, but the Norwegian striker got it all wrong and did not even make contact with the ball.

Speaking on Sky Sports commentary for the game, Neville laughed and said it looked like the striker "never played football before," while Keane was scathing in his assessment of the 23-year-old after the match.

Roy Keane and Gary Neville working on television for the Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle in February 2023.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"The levels of his general play is so poor," the former Manchester United midfielder said.

"Not just today, I think his laying stuff off, headers, whatever it might be – in front of goal he's the best in the world – but for his general play for such a player it is so poor... he has to improve that.

"He's almost like a League Two player, that's the way I look at him. His general play has to improve, and it will do over the next few years."

Haaland has now failed to score in three appearances against Arsenal this season and for Manchester City, Sunday's goalless game ended a run of 57 consecutive home matches in which they had converted every time.

The champions remain in third place, but are now three points behind leaders Liverpool and two adrift of Arsenal in the title race with nine rounds remaining.

Next up for Pep Guardiola's side is a home fixture against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

More Manchester City stories

Meet the Manchester City coaches behind the GENIUS set-piece corner routine John Stones scored from vs Liverpool

Quiz! Can you name every goalscorer from games between Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's Man City?

Manchester City given green light to begin talks over Brazilian Real Madrid superstar transfer this summer: report

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.