According to Football.London, Arsenal are monitoring the development of RB Salzburg duo of Dominik Szoboszlai and Erling Braut Haaland. Szoboszlai is not a new name for any avid follower of European football. But, it’s Haaland, the son of former Leeds United midfielder, Alfe Inge, who has raised a lot of eyebrows with his blistering performances this season.
Haaland’s rise to prominence
A product of the Bryne youth academy, which is situated in his father’s home-town, Haaland moved to Molde FK in 2017. He made quite an impression while playing for the Norwegian giants, notably scoring 12 goals in 25 matches in the Eliteserien last year.
As a result, he moved to RB Salzburg at the start of this year for a fee of €5 million. He was brought in as a long-term replacement for Munas Dabbur, who moved to Sevilla earlier this summer. And the youngster has since done a great job, scoring 11 goals in just seven matches in the Austrian Bundesliga this season.
The 19-year-old recently starred for Salzburg in their emphatic 6-2 win over KRC Genk. He scored a hat-trick, in what was his debut game in the UEFA Champions League. There is no wonder Haaland is now rated as one of the most talented players in Europe.
What can he bring to the table?
A centre-forward by trade, Haaland is known for his imposing 1.94m frame that makes him an intimidating presence in the final third. He can easily shrug off defenders and is also an indirect threat from set-pieces.
Despite his tall figure, Haaland is quite agile and is always on the lookout for that defence threading runs in behind. He can sniff scoring opportunities as well, which makes him such a prolific goalscorer.
But, what really makes Haaland such a unique component in attack is his aggression and tenacity to win the ball back for his team.
Is Haaland a good option for Arsenal?
Haaland is the ideal target for Arsenal as he is equipped with the exact skillsets that could help the Gunners add another dimension to their attack. They already have two prolific goalscorers in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
But, their long-term future at the club could be in doubt if they continue their scoring form this season. Haaland, in that regard, can be groomed into an ideal replacement. The young Norwegian is tall and strong, making him a tailor-made fit for the physically demanding nature of the Premier League. And at the age of just 19, he can be a smart long-term investment for the Gunners.
