Antoine Semenyo shares 'what people don't see' about Erling Haaland during matches

Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo has dismissed suggestions Erling Haaland's game isn't balanced enough . The Norwegian continues to take Premier League defences apart but has faced growing criticism of late.

Haaland, 25, has already equalled the Premier League goal haul that earned him last season's Golden Boot (22). And it would be a safe wager to predict he'll add several more to that figure between now and the campaign's conclusion.

He's been urged to offer even more across City's overall play as they attempt to wrestle the title initiative from Arsenal on Sunday. But January arrival Semenyo already recognises the enormous advantage of lining up alongside such a proven threat up top.

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"He's a big problem," he told In The Mixer , brought to you by Sky Bet. "Just in the games, when people mark him; it's not just one person marking him, it's like three people.

"It's like [relieved expression] the space for everyone else is fantastic. But he causes so many problems. He's tall, fast, can finish. [He's] essentially the complete striker. Anything in the box, he'll score."

While he may have developed an admiration for his team-mate since departing Bournemouth , Semenyo isn't allowing himself to get carried away with his Haaland praise. And he held back from placing his colleague on too lofty a platform when questioned on where he ranks among the finest Premier League strikers of all time.

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"That's a tough question," he replied. "He'll be up there, for sure. His numbers are a scandal. Forty-one goals in one season."

He continued: "It's not even just his goalscoring. What he does for the team, not many people see it but he's so important.

"Just holding up the ball, bringing players into play, massively important to our game. He can do a lot of things, I'll give him that."

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The former Premier League Player of the Year will be expected to showcase all those qualities this Sunday. City welcome Arsenal with an opportunity to narrow the gap at the summit to just three points, while still holding a game in hand.

Semenyo also reckons his team are facing the Gunners at an ideal moment following a spell of just one victory in five matches: "Our form over the last couple of games has been good and we're playing probably the best football we've played in the second half of the season.

"So it's a good time to play them, I guess. Where they've dipped in form, we've picked up form, so it'll be interesting."