Haaland vs Gyokeres: What the stats tell us about the Man City & Arsenal strikers
Erling Braut Haaland’s stunning start to the 2025/26 Premier League season has sparked plenty of debate about his chances of winning the Golden Boot. Nine goals in the first seven matches have put the Manchester City striker comfortably clear of the chasing pack and he looks a good bet to stay at the top of standings.
The Spreadex Premier League predictions paint an intriguing picture about the expectations for the Norwegian international this term. He has been tipped to score between 28.5 to 30.5 goals for City, which should be enough to clinch the top scorer prize for the third time in four seasons. Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak finished ahead of Haaland last season, but neither are expected to come close to his tally this time around.
Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres is expected to be his nearest challenger, although his predicted total of 15.5 to 17 goals is dwarfed by Haaland’s potential haul. However, it is no unreasonable to think that he could put pressure on Haaland if everything falls into place. Read on as we take a closer look.
Haaland sets a tough benchmark for Gyokeres
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in September offered fans the first opportunity to see Haaland and Gyokeres go head-to-head. Statistically speaking, there was little to choose between them. Haaland completed eight out of 14 passes, Gyokeres completed eight out of 13.
The Man City striker lost possession 11 times, while his Arsenal counterpart was wasteful on 13 occasions. However, Haaland won the main battle. His ninth minute goal was not enough to secure victory for Man City, but highlighted his ability to score against tough opponents.
By contrast, in addition to his blank against Man City, the Arsenal striker has failed to score against Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham United this term. Some critics have suggested that Gyokeres is a ‘flat-track bully’ who fills his boots against lower-ranked opponents, but struggles against top teams.
While that assessment may be harsh, it may not be a bad thing if it is true given the number of times Arsenal failed to win against teams they should have beaten last season. The Swedish international’s record for Sporting CP over the past couple of years also adds weight to the argument that he could rival Haaland for the Golden Boot.
Momentum could be a decisive factor
Haaland has established a six-goal cushion over Gyokeres after seven games. Given his penchant for scoring regularly, he will be tough to overhaul. However, it is worth noting that the Norwegian is surrounded by familiar faces, while the Arsenal striker is still getting accustomed to his new surroundings.
Gyokeres scored just three goals in Sporting’s first six league games after joining the club in 2023, yet subsequently averaged almost a goal per game thereafter. He bagged 54 goals in 52 appearances for the Portuguese outfit last season, putting Haaland’s 34 goals in 48 appearances into the shade.
While the level of opposition factors into the numbers, Gyokeres has demonstrated that he can be prolific given the right service. With Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke in the squad, the Swedish international will not be short of chances to score.
Martin Odegaard is another player who could create plenty of scoring opportunities for Gyokeres, although his ongoing injury issues are concerning. Common sense tells us that Haaland will be tough to catch if he stays fit, but the stats give the Arsenal star a fighting chance of putting him under pressure.