At a Glance:
- Erling Haaland was asked his thoughts about Gabriel Magalhaes not getting a red in Manchester City’s 2-1 win against Arsenal.
- Haaland explained why Gabriel may have escaped a sending off despite headbutting him.
- The Manchester City striker wondered why the defender came head-to-head with him.
During Manchester City’s 2-1 victory against Arsenal, Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhaes got into a scuffle after constantly battling with each throughout the clash.
Haaland initially pushed Gabriel but the Brazilian international did not take kindly to the Norwegian international’s gesture and butted his head into the striker’s after the pair came face-to-face with each other.
On several instances, players have been given a straight red card for pushing their head into an opponent’s during a scuffle.
But fortunately for the defender, he escaped any such punishment but ultimately, Arsenal ended up losing the contest shortly after their defeat to the hosts in the Carabao Cup final.
Erling Haaland says why Gabriel did not get a red card in Man City vs Arsenal
In the aftermath of the clash, Haaland was asked whether Gabriel merited a red card during the clash.
The two-time Premier League winner told Sky Sports that had he fallen on the floor, the Arsenal centre-back would have been sent off.
“If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would maybe be a red card. I’m not sure, I haven’t seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me, I don’t know why he comes up to my face.”
Fortunately for Mikel Arteta, Gabriel was not sent off as the Spaniard cannot afford to lose one of his best players to a suspension in the title run-in moving forward.
Why Gabriel escaped red card in Man City vs Arsenal
However, fans and pundits alike must be wondering how the former Lille colossus managed to stay on the pitch despite his antics.
Had Arsenal managed to get over the line, there would have been huge controversy around the decision.
#MCIARS – 83'
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) April 19, 2026
The referee’s call of no red card was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action from Gabriel deemed not to be excessively aggressive or violent.
The Premier League Match Centre explained: “The referee’s call of no red card was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action from Gabriel deemed not to be excessively aggressive or violent.”
Gabriel will ultimately be frustrated about Arsenal’s defeat and how he could not keep Haaland quiet, who dominated him physically to score a well-taken winner.
