Shocking stat shows how poor Haaland’s finishing has been since ‘stay humble’

Erling Haaland started the current Premier League season in unstoppable form, but his performances have dropped significantly in recent weeks.

The former Dortmund striker has scored nine goals in Manchester City's first four league matches, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham.

Haaland then scored his 10th league goal of the season in a 2–2 draw against Arsenal on 22 September.

After that game, which ended with John Stones scoring a dramatic late equalizer, Haaland turned to Mikel Arteta on the pitch and confronted the Arsenal manager: “Stay humble, stay humble.”

Haaland also swore at Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus amid heated scenes after the final whistle that day.

Those words, 'stay humble', are now being used as a stick to beat Haaland with, as his own form since then has been very modest compared to his own high standards.

Haaland has played seven games in the Premier League since the draw against Arsenal. He played the full 90 minutes in each of those matches, but only scored two goals.

Those two goals came from 36 shots, 15 of which were on target.

According to The xG Philosophy, Haaland's expected goals based on his chances during those seven games was 8.03. This means that his success rate was over 75% lower than detailed statistical data would normally indicate.

Haaland scored seven shots on Saturday as City fell to their fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions, losing 4-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Only two of those seven shots forced Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario into saves, with Haaland also hitting the woodwork.

Haaland spoke to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's match and admitted he was desperate to stop City's losing streak.

He said, 'Yes, we lost four in a row. That is not normal at a club like this. It hurts, that's for sure. And the motivation is greater than ever to go on Saturday and win the game and get back on the run.”

Asked how City's poor run was affecting him off the pitch, Haaland said: 'I think it's important to just let it go. It's the hardest thing, even in life, to let go of things and be sad and all that. But focus on the next thing, because look how many games there are.

'If I think about the last four games, that's not a good thing. And that's exactly what I didn't do.

'I went to the national team and we won two games.

“So it's about restarting, it's about looking to the future, it's about staying in the present moment and looking to the future.”

City remain second in the Premier League despite their latest defeat.

However, if Liverpool won against Southampton on Sunday, Guardiola's team would be eight points behind the leaders.

City's next Premier League match is at Liverpool on December 1.