Erling Haaland has refused to apologize after a controversial altercation with Arsenal defender Gabriel during Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last month. The incident occurred after John Stones scored a dramatic 98th-minute equalizer. With Haaland grabbing the ball and bouncing it off the back of Gabriel’s head. The act sparked a heated exchange between players from both teams at the final whistle. Adding fuel to the already tense rivalry between the Premier League title contenders.
Despite calls for potential disciplinary action, Haaland escaped punishment as the incident was reviewed by VAR during the game, and no further action was taken by the FA. Gabriel, however, fired a warning shot at City, stating that Arsenal would be seeking revenge when the teams meet again at the Emirates later this season. “We are waiting for them at our ground,” the Brazilian defender boldly declared.
When asked about the incident, Haaland remained defiant, showing no remorse for his actions. “I don’t regret much in life. In the heat of the moment, things happened in that game. What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch. That’s how it is,” the Manchester City striker told reporters, signaling that he had moved on from the episode and believed Arsenal should do the same.
Gabriel, on the other hand, downplayed the situation, acknowledging that such behavior is part of the game, especially in a high-stakes match between fierce competitors. Speaking to TNT Sports Brasil, Gabriel said, “I don’t even remember this. It’s normal. They were happy after scoring in the last minute. It’s a battle, a war, so it’s normal to have provocative acts in football, it’s part of the game. Now this is over and we are waiting for them at our ground.”
While Gabriel appeared to brush off the altercation, Arsenal legend Ian Wright was less forgiving. Wright publicly criticized Haaland, calling the striker’s actions a “coward’s move” for targeting Gabriel when he wasn’t looking. In passionate video shared on Instagram, Wright said, “The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move. Throwing the ball at Gabi’s head when he’s not looking. Gabi would look him in the eye, you know. That’s what bothered me more than anything else.”
The incident has undoubtedly heightened the already intense rivalry between Manchester City and Arsenal. With tensions likely to escalate further when the two sides meet again later in the season. While Haaland has made it clear that he has no regrets, it remains to be seen whether this flashpoint will influence future clashes between the two Premier League giants.
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