Mikel Arteta believes Erling Haaland has "made the difference" for Manchester City to win more games in the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola's side stormed to the title this season after usurping Arsenal during the run-in. Arteta's side threw away an eight-point lead after failing to beat the likes of Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and City in April and May.
City, meanwhile, have won 12 consecutive league games, with Haaland leading their attack. The Norwegian has scored 52 goals in all competitions this season, including 36 in the Premier League. No one has scored more in the division since it was formed in 1992.
Arteta was asked for his opinion on City's record-breaking striker during an interview with Paramount Plus Mexico. Haaland was recently named as the Football Writers' Association's (FWA) Footballer of the Year, with further honours expected in due course.
Arteta said: "He had a huge impact in the Premier League and the Champions League. He transformed the way Man City are playing. He opened new doors and new options, which they previously didn't have in attack.
"He did what is most difficult in the [footballing] world - scoring goals - and he made the difference to win more games. His goal-scoring record is absolutely outstanding, so I think he deserves the award."
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Haaland is the favourite to be named the Premier League Player of the Season, a fan-voted gong, and the Professional Footballers' Association's Players' Player of the Year. The latter award is arguably the most prestigious, as it's voted for by Premier League players.
City are aiming to become just the second team in history to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season. The only other club to achieve that feat are Manchester United, who did so under Sir Alex Ferguson 24 years ago.
Guardiola will need Haaland to be at his best if City are to achieve the feat. They face local rivals Man Utd in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3 before taking on Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul seven days later.
Man Utd will be desperate to stop their 'noisy neighbours' from winning 'The Treble' and take the uniqueness off Ferguson's 1999 triumph. The good news for City is Haaland has already scored a hat-trick against Man Utd this season, doing so in October's 6-3 win.
On winning the FWA prize with 82 per cent of the vote, Haaland said: "To win the Football Writers' Association award in my first season in English football is an honour. I try every single day to be the best I can be and to be recognised like this means a lot to me.
"I have loved my time at City so far - my teammates are incredible, and they provide me with the chances to score goals... I am now focused on ensuring I finish the season as strongly as possible and helping City win trophies."
