Sports
“Stay Humble,” Man City Haters Mock Haaland
By Benjamin Abioye
Erling Haaland, once hailed as Manchester City’s unstoppable goal machine, is now the target of online banter as his words to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta—“Stay humble, eh, stay humble”— recho in mockey of his loss of form.
What was meant to be a jab at the Arsenal manager after a heated 2-2 draw on September 22 has turned into a viral rallying cry for critics, with Haaland’s recent struggles on the pitch adding fuel to the fire.
Haaland began the Premier League season in sensational form, scoring nine goals in City’s first four matches, including back-to-back hat-tricks. By the time he netted his 10th goal in the draw against Arsenal, the Norwegian striker seemed unstoppable. But since that dramatic evening, where John Stones scored a late equalizer and Haaland’s fiery words to Arteta and Gabriel Jesus made headlines, things have gone downhill—for both Haaland and Manchester City.
The striker’s finishing, once razor-sharp, has dipped significantly, and his tally has stalled as City’s performances have become uncharacteristically inconsistent. The Premier League champions have managed only one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions, leaving fans disheartened and critics emboldened.
The latest blow came in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, a game that highlighted City’s struggles. Despite dominating possession with 67% at halftime, Pep Guardiola’s men failed to capitalize on their chances. Jhon Duran’s opening goal, assisted by ex-City player Morgan Rogers, set the tone, and Villa’s Emiliano Martinez put on a goalkeeping masterclass to deny attempts from Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
By the time City managed a consolation goal in injury time, it was too little, too late. The loss leaves Manchester City in fifth place, nine points behind league leaders Liverpool—a far cry from their usual dominance.
As City falters, social media has been quick to seize on the irony of Haaland’s “stay humble” comment. Critics have turned his own words into memes and posts mocking his and his team’s current struggles. One viral tweet read: “Maybe it’s time for Haaland to take his own advice and ‘stay humble.’”
Fans have pointed out the sharp contrast between Haaland’s red-hot start to the season and his current form, with many suggesting that the striker might be feeling the pressure. Injuries to key players like Ruben Dias have only compounded City’s problems, but that hasn’t spared Haaland from the relentless online mockery.
Haaland’s words, meant as a dig at Arsenal, have become a symbol of Manchester City’s and his own fall from grace in recent weeks. While the Premier League is far from over, the striker and his team will need to find their footing fast to turn the tide.
For now, though, the internet has spoken, and the message is clear: “Stay humble, Haaland.”
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