Erling Braut Haaland has broken the record for the most goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season after finding the net in Manchester City's 4-1 win over title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Norwegian began the night by setting up man-of-the-match Kevin De Bruyne for a brilliant opening goal in the seventh minute, before John Stones doubled City's lead with a header on the stroke of half time.
Haaland teed up De Bruyne again nine minutes after the break, with the Belgian slotting a calm and composed finish beyond Aaron Ramsdale to put a dominant Citizens side three goals in front.
Rob Holding pulled one back for the Gunners with a sweet strike on the 86-minute mark, but Haaland – who was unfortunate to have not scored earlier in the contest – found the net with virtually the last kick of the game, placing a left-footed strike under the outstretched glove of Ramsdale to compete a statement victory for Pep Guardiola's side.
Haaland has moved onto 33 Premier League goals this season, breaking a new record for the most goals scored in a 38-game campaign in the competition.
The 22-year-old has surpassed the previous record held by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who scored 32 goals in the 2017-18 season.
Inevitable. @ErlingHaaland now holds the record for the most goals of any player in a 38-match #PL season! pic.twitter.com/FmF83lUa6V
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 26, 2023
Haaland has also moved just one goal behind the all-time Premier League scoring record for a single season, currently held by both Alan Shearer and Andy Cole who scored 34 goals in 42-game campaigns in 1993-94 and 1994-95 respectively.
City's No.9 has scored 21 of his 33 Premier League goals at the Etihad Stadium this season, becoming the first English top-flight player to reach that landmark of home goals since Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively in 2007-08.
Across all competitions, Haaland has now scored an astonishing 49 goals in just 43 games, the most by any English top-flight player since Clive Allen netted the same amount for Tottenham Hotspur back in 1986-87.
To put Haaland's exceptional goalscoring exploits into context, the Norwegian has found the net more times in the Premier League this season than seven different top-flight teams to date, all of whom are in the bottom half of the table including Chelsea.
Haaland is almost certain to claim the Golden Boot award in his debut campaign for Man City, as he currently sits nine clear of Tottenham's Harry Kane (24) in second place.
Haaland still has seven more games in which he can increase his goal tally, including Sunday's encounter against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Man City's triumph over Arsenal has seen them take control of the title race as they have moved to within two points of the Gunners at the summit who have played two games more than Guardiola's men.
List of the Premier League's all-time record goalscorers in a single season:
34 goals: Andy Cole (Newcastle United – 1993-94 – 42-game season)
34 goals: Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers – 1994-95 – 42-game season)
*33 goals: Erling Braut Haaland (Manchester City – 2022-23 – 38-game season)
32 goals: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool – 2017-18 – 38-game season)
31 goals: Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers – 1993-94 – 42-game season)
31 goals: Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers – 1995-96 – 42-game season)
31 goals: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United – 2007-08 – 38-game season)
31 goals: Luis Suarez (Liverpool – 2013-14 – 38-game season)
Oliver Thomas
