Gyokeres will outscore me when that guy join Arsenal in January, I’m really scared”: Erling Haaland says he’s scared of the players Arsenal are about to sign January, because he’ll unlocked Viktor Gyokeres potential.

Pause. That single word says everything. Because when Erling Haaland paused before answering, the entire Premier League seemed to pause with him. The most feared striker in world football, the man who scores goals like breathing, suddenly sounded human. Vulnerable. Honest. And for the first time since arriving in England, Erling Haaland admitted fear. Not fear of defenders. Not fear of injuries. But fear of what Arsenal are about to become.

It happened after Manchester City’s ruthless 3-0 destruction of Crystal Palace on December 21, 2025. Haaland had just scored twice again. Twenty league goals already. Another Golden Boot campaign loading. The Etihad crowd sang his name. Everything looked normal. Perfect. But in the mixed zone, with cameras rolling and microphones hovering, Haaland changed the story of the season with one sentence.

“I’m really scared,” he said.

Those words hit harder than any goal.

Not scared of Liverpool. Not scared of Chelsea. Not even scared of his own body breaking down under the pressure of endless matches. He was scared of Arsenal. And more specifically, he was scared of what Arsenal are about to do in January. He didn’t whisper it. He didn’t joke it away. He said it calmly, like a man who understands danger when he sees it.

“Gyökeres is already dangerous,” Haaland continued. “But when that guy joins in January… yeah, he will outscore me. I’m really scared because that player will unlock Viktor’s potential like no one else.” That was all he needed to say. The Premier League exploded.

Within minutes, social media was on fire. Arsenal fans were celebrating like they had already won the title. Manchester City fans were arguing. Manchester United fans were furious. And neutrals were smiling, because football had just given them something rare: truth.

The truth is simple. Viktor Gyökeres has not yet shown his full power at Arsenal. And Erling Haaland knows exactly why.

Gyökeres arrived at the Emirates in the summer of 2025 with massive expectations. Arsenal paid £64 million to bring him from Sporting CP, where he had just completed one of the most frightening seasons in European football. Fifty-four goals in fifty-two games. Defenders bounced off him. Goalkeepers feared him. He didn’t just score, he dominated.

At Sporting, Gyökeres had everything a striker dreams of. Fast wingers. Early crosses. Sharp cutbacks. Space to run. Midfielders who looked for him first. Every system was built to feed him. Then he came to England. And reality hit.

The Premier League is cruel. Defenders are stronger. Lines are tighter. Space disappears in seconds. At Arsenal, Gyökeres found himself isolated too often. Double-marked. Forced to drop deep. Fighting centre-backs instead of running into space. His hold-up play impressed everyone. His strength was obvious. But the goals did not flow like they did in Portugal.

By late December 2025, Gyökeres had just eight goals in twenty-two appearances across all competitions. Not terrible. But not what Arsenal paid for. Not what the fans expected. And not what Gyökeres expected from himself.

Mikel Arteta knew it too. He never criticised the striker publicly, but his words carried pressure. “We expect Viktor to go to another level soon,” Arteta said after Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win at Everton, where Gyökeres scored the winning penalty. It sounded like encouragement. It also sounded like a warning.Arsenal are top of the Premier League table for a reason. They don’t wait. They don’t hope. They act.

And this is where Erling Haaland’s fear becomes very real.Because Arsenal are not planning to wait for Gyökeres to adapt slowly. They are planning to unlock him.

Behind the scenes, Arsenal have been working quietly, aggressively, and intelligently on a deal that could change everything. A deal that could turn Viktor Gyökeres from a struggling newcomer into a monster. A deal that could turn Arsenal from title challengers into title favourites.That deal is Marcus Rashford.Yes, that Marcus Rashford.

The Manchester United forward. The local hero who lost his way. The player who once carried United on his back and then watched everything fall apart. The player many thought was finished at the top level. Arsenal don’t think so.

Sources close to the Emirates say personal terms are already agreed. Rashford is ready. Arsenal are ready. The only thing left is the fee. United want around £80 million, with add-ons pushing it closer to £90 million. Arsenal are negotiating. Andrea Berta is working every connection. Every relationship. Every angle. And Rashford wants out.

He wants a fresh start. He wants a manager who believes in him. He wants structure, clarity, and trust. He believes Mikel Arteta can give him all of that. And Arteta believes Rashford is the missing piece. This is why Haaland is scared.Because Rashford changes everything

For years, Arsenal have relied heavily on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli for width and creativity. They are brilliant players, but they cannot do everything alone. Defences learned how to block them. Teams sat deep. Space vanished. Rashford brings chaos.

He brings raw speed. Direct running. Fear. He forces defenders to retreat. He drags full-backs wide. He creates gaps in the middle. And most importantly, he knows how to feed a striker.

At Manchester United, Rashford’s best football came when he played with a true number nine ahead of him. His bursts down the left. His early balls into the box. His cutbacks across goal. This is exactly the service Viktor Gyökeres needs.

At Sporting, Gyökeres lived off that kind of supply. Low crosses. Fast breaks. One-touch finishes. Arsenal have not given him enough of that yet. Rashford changes that instantly.

Data analysts inside the club believe a Rashford-Gyökeres partnership could add fifteen to twenty goals in the second half of the season alone. That is not hope. That is projection based on patterns, movement, and expected chances.

Haaland understands numbers. He understands momentum. And he understands danger.

Manchester City and Arsenal are locked in a brutal title race. At Christmas 2025, Arsenal sit two points clear at the top. City are chasing. Liverpool are lurking. Chelsea are unpredictable. Every point matters. Every goal matters.

Haaland is chasing his fourth consecutive Golden Boot. He has twenty already. He feels confident. But he also knows that football changes fast. One signing can flip everything.

“If they give him the right balls,” Haaland said, “good luck to everyone else.”That wasn’t arrogance. That was respect.

Haaland sees himself in Gyökeres. Big. Fast. Strong. Clinical. He knows what happens when a striker like that gets the right supply. He lives it every week at City.And now he sees Arsenal building the same machine.

Pep Guardiola sees it too. City have relied heavily on Haaland’s output this season. When he scores, they win. When he doesn’t, they struggle. Arsenal are building something more balanced. More unpredictable. More dangerous.

They already strengthened in the summer with Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke. Now they are preparing to strike again in January. Not a panic buy. A calculated move.

Marcus Rashford is not a gamble in Arteta’s eyes. He is a project. A revival. A weapon.

United’s problems are not Rashford’s talent. They are chaos, pressure, and instability. Arsenal offer the opposite. Clear roles. Clear ideas. Clear responsibility.

Rashford believes he can score again. He believes he can assist again. He believes he can enjoy football again. And Arsenal believe he can help deliver a league title they have waited decades for.

Gyökeres has stayed quiet through all of this. He has not complained. He has not made excuses. “It’s a new league, new teammates,” he said. “But I’m adapting, and with more chances, the goals will come.”

Those words sound calm. But inside, the hunger is burning.

If Rashford arrives early in January, those chances will come fast. Very fast.

Defenders will have to choose. Close Rashford or track Gyökeres. Stop Saka or block Martinelli. Sit deep or press high. Every option becomes dangerous. Every mistake becomes fatal.

This is why Liverpool and Chelsea are watching nervously. This is why City are alert. This is why Haaland spoke the truth instead of hiding behind confidence.The Premier League is changing again.Haaland’s admission went viral instantly. Arsenal fans flooded social media with memes of a scared Viking. City fans tried to downplay it. United fans argued over selling Rashford. But the message was clear.Something big is coming.

January is no longer just a transfer window. It is a turning point. If Arsenal complete this deal, they do not just improve their squad. They send a message to the league. A message that says they are done waiting. Done rebuilding. Done learning. They are here to win.And Erling Haaland knows it.

As the window approaches, all eyes are on the Emirates. Every rumour feels heavier. Every report feels louder. Because this is not just about one player. It is about balance of power.

If Marcus Rashford joins Arsenal and unlocks Viktor Gyökeres, the league may not recover in time. Haaland’s fear may become prophecy. And the title race that looked open could suddenly feel very narrow. One thing is certain. 2026 is coming fast. And it is coming with fire.

The Premier League asked for drama. Football delivered.And it all started with one pause, one sentence, and one honest fear from the best striker in the world.