Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland hailed as Premier League's greatest ever duo
Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland could go down as the Premier League's greatest ever forward partnership, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has claimed.
Keown was a key member of Arsenal's side in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when team-mates Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp formed one of the division's most lethal combinations up front.
Henry and Bergkamp helped fire Arsenal to Premier League title wins in 2001/02 and 2003/04, the latter being the season when the Gunners became 'Invincible' after going undefeated in their 38 games.
Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are one of the modern game's more iconic duos, though despite their telepathic-like understanding, they've been unable to lead the Lilywhites to any form of silverware.
The same is unlikely to be said for De Bruyne and Haaland, who have now positioned City as firm favourites for the Premier League title after trailing Arsenal for the majority of the season. They are also firm favourites to break their Champions League duck ahead of a mouthwatering two-legged tie with 14-time winners Real Madrid.
Current Premier League table, top scorers & upcoming fixtures
manual
And despite playing with each other for less than nine months, Keown is of the belief that spectators are bearing to witness to quite possibly the Premier League's best ever forward duo.
"This is one of the best Premier League teams we've ever seen," Keown told talkSPORT. "I thought Bergkamp and Henry was one hell of a partnership for Arsenal back in the day, but in De Bruyne and Haaland, I think maybe it’s gone to another level.
Keown was speaking in the aftermath of City's 4-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, which puts Pep Guardiola's side firmly in control of the Premier League title race, and he further revealed why he believes De Bruyne and Haaland are so good.
"Haaland is such a young man and he just terrorised Arsenal's defence," Keown continued. "And De Bruyne's movement… I mean, wow.
"I thought Pep Guardiola was quite magnificent with his tactics. City have fine-tuned their system and Arsenal were in real disarray. They couldn't cope.
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne's 2022/23 Premier League records
Erling Haaland has already broken a number of records during his short time as a Manchester City player, most recently becoming the highest goalscorer in a 38-game Premier League season.
The Norwegian's 33 goals have frighteningly come from just 29 appearances, with the fun also continuing in domestic cup and Champions League competition. Indeed, 12 goals in the latter have taken Haaland up to 49 for the season - more than any other Premier League player has ever achieved.
As for De Bruyne, he has been an assist machine again for City, bagging 16 in the 29 Premier League games he's played to date. Throw seven goals of his own into the mix and it's easy to understand why Keown is making comparisons of the pair to Henry and Bergkamp.
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss Chelsea's likely appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, the carnage at Tottenham and Harry Kane's next steps, David de Gea and Harry Maguire's Man Utd futures, Lionel Messi's impending Barcelona return & more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!