Goal Machine Semenyo Takes Heat Off Haaland
Antoine Semenyo’s 6 goals ease Erling Haaland’s burden as Manchester City intensify their Premier League title charge under Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City has often been accused of relying too heavily on Erling Haaland this season. There are signs that this may be changing.
January signing Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal in a tense 1-0 win against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, leaving City, without the injured Haaland, two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Since signing from Bournemouth for £62.5 million, Semenyo has scored six goals in 11 games, making him the club's top scorer this year and easing the burden on Haaland.
Semenyo's arrival has also coincided with a surge in form for Pep Guardiola's side, as four consecutive league wins – and one loss in seven matches – have helped them put pressure on long-time leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners host Chelsea on Sunday, but with Arsenal and City playing in April, they will be making their presence felt.
"It means everything," said Semenyo, 26. "We just want to win our games and get them in our favor, and no matter what Arsenal do, we'll just have to wait and see."
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"We just have to control what we can control, win our games, and we'll see what happens."
After the match, Guardiola came onto the pitch and blew a kiss to his family in the stands.
According to the Spaniard, this may have also softened the arrogance of the Leeds fans, who had been booing him during the game.
"We're making these players."
Semenyo's winning goal silenced the noisy and raucous crowd with a truly poacher finish. He reacted quickly to Rayan Ait-Nouri's cross and scored brilliantly.
"We made a lot of passes that we had to avoid without any intention of attacking," Guardiola said.
"The reaction was amazing - incredible with our goal. A full game in a difficult, difficult place, and 10 games left in the Premier League. Time to make a decision.
"We're developing these players now, and they have a very, very long time here. This is important for the club's future."
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Semenyo is taking the goal-scoring burden off Haaland's shoulders – only his teammate (29) and Brentford's Igor Thiago (19) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Semenyo's 18.
Since signing for City, Semenyo has scored four league goals and provided one assist, a goal contribution record only bettered by Chelsea duo Cole Palmer and João Pedro, who have six goals each.
At the end of November, Haaland had created 58% of City's goals, taken 30% of their shots, and accounted for 57% of their expected goals (xG).
He had scored 19 goals in all competitions. Burnley's Maxime Esteve was City's second-highest league scorer in the match played at the Etihad Stadium, thanks to his two own goals.
Now, while Haaland's impressive tally of 29 goals this season still stands, Semenyo – and others – is silencing those who feared City were overly reliant on the Norwegian's goals.
'It's no big deal'
Guardiola did not specify the severity of Haaland's injury and could not say whether he would be fit for Wednesday's match against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium.
His absence was a surprise as there was no prior indication that Haaland would miss the trip to Leeds.
"We don't have spies at our training center to inform our media," Guardiola said. "I think it's no big deal. We'll see."
This was the first Premier League match Haaland was not involved in this season.
However, a surprising statistic shows that since the start of the 2022-23 season, City have won 14 of their 18 league games without Haaland, averaging 2.4 points per game in his absence, compared to 2.1 points per game when he plays.
The win over Leeds means City have lost just one of their last 15 games, playing a day before Arsenal.
The first direct meeting between the two teams will be in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley next month.
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