Erling Haaland has addressed the incident where he hit the ball at Gabriel Magalhães’ head after Manchester City scored a late equaliser against Arsenal. Gabriel had been one of the standout performers in the match, playing a crucial role in keeping Haaland quiet for most of the game. The Norwegian striker, known for his goal-scoring prowess, struggled against Arsenal’s resolute defence, with Gabriel’s marking playing a key part in limiting his influence.
Haaland, clearly frustrated by Arsenal’s defensive efforts, particularly Gabriel’s, lashed out in the moment by hitting the ball at the Brazilian defender after City’s late goal. Gabriel has since downplayed the incident, brushing it off as part of the intensity of the match.
When recently asked about the incident, Haaland spoke about it, suggesting there were no hard feelings and acknowledging the heat of the moment during a fiercely competitive match. Both players appear to have moved on, with Gabriel’s calm response helping to diffuse any lingering tension.
Haaland said, as quoted by Manchester Evening News:
“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.”
He added: “I don’t regret much in life.” when asked if he regretted the incident.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Haaland was a frustrated figure in that game, just like most of the Manchester City stars, which is why they celebrated wildly when they finally had the ball in the back of the next, even though it was only a leveller and not a winning goal.
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So what if he was frustrated?
You’re not supposed to lash out at people just because things aren’t going your way.
If that were ok, Southampton woud be within their rights to kick every other team to bits.
To me, Haaland comes across as egotistical, self-absorbed and entitled.
Come on it’s nothing
I seen Arsenal players do worse
Here we go again Dan – supporting the opponents over The Arsenal players.
If Gabriel had one that to Haaland, you’d be criticising him for not playing to the rules, inviting the officials to send him off, slagging him off for not being professional and letting the club down for violent play.
Haaland was in the wrong, as throwing the ball at a player is violent conduct, but your friend, Mr Oliver and his team didn’t see it happen for some strange reason, even with VAR!!
Are you now saying that any player can throw a ball at an opponent and, if so, why?
I’m saying these things happen
I remember Ian Wright once pulling a players hair when the reff wasn’t looking and it was ….what a cheeky character lol
Don’t remember two weeks later a demand for punishment
Do worse… like what Dan ?
The only truth is that arsenal doesn’t have player/s who are emotionally immature and mentally underdeveloped. Harland is a baby trapped in a man’s body
I absolutely agree- Harland’s immaturity continues to plague what would otherwise be a sterling career. He reacts childishly- extremely juvenile when the team Man City is playing against is ahead! It is boorish- he needs to tame his arrogance- quick, fast!
Yeah it’s really impacting his career lol
Halland immaturity was protected by Oliver and his team. God reward them accordingly. Pride kills
Ian wright pulling a players hair as an example
Happens at all club
Dont get me wrong if he got booked then he deserves it but I seen players do things all the time and get away with it
Well Dan
Whilst I don’t want to go down the route of conspiracy v consistency from the referee, Haaland’s action was plain to see from almost anybody watching onTV or at the game.
I agree that worse actions happen. You did hit the nail on the head that Wrighty was sneaky- which I get. That kind of thing has been going on for years. Vinny Jones was a prime example.
Haaland should have been reprimanded. Failure to do so by the ref only fuels talk of bias which on this occasion feels justified to me
A yellow card is brandished for celebrating a goal by whipping off the shirt and waving it around but not for EH who admitted tensions had run high 🤔
Was Ben White nor cheating when he was trying to take the Spurs keepers gloves off ?
We all loved that
Why wasn’t he booked or since banned ?
One of my fave celebrations was Henry running length of pitch to celebrate in front of Spurs fans
It’s technically wrong though
Keown was wrong when when he shoved Van Nistleroy ,why was he not red carded ?
Fabregas throwing Pizza , Viera and Keane in the tunnel
It’s all technically wrong isnt it ?
Like the example you gave
That was wrong of Vinnie Jones
Yet it’s laughed about
I admit I didn’t see the White incident. I mentioned Wright being sneaky. There was a lot of sneaky stuff but my point about Haaland is that EVERYONE could see it. I would expect any player to be reprimanded- even an Arsenal player 😊.
It didn’t need VAR taking 3 minutes or a pundit performing an in-depth forensic examination from a slow tv motion monitor to see it.
I’m not outraged by what Haaland did but it’s the lack of consequence for it that irks.
But the issue is not about Arsenal, wrong is wrong no tit for tat, what he did was unexceptable, I lost respect for Haaland, he’s the best striker but certainly not the best player, he did not even offer an apology, instead he justified he’s actions!
It wasn’t an aggressive action, and Haaland was being quite childish, but it was stupid and could have earned him a red card. It was significant that Gabriel didn’t make a fuss either on the pitch or later.
Could and probably should have been a yellow (unsportsmanlike behaviour?), but what would make it worthy of a red?
Had he already been booked?
Unsportsmanlike conduct- exactly
I would imagine that throwing something at an opponent might be considered just as red worthy as a punch, but thought it was no more than a lobbed ball at Gabriel, which he said that he hardly noticed.
I notice the pussy threw the ball then ran away like a girl. The coward.
I think Haaland was just trynna be childish here and meant no hard feelings…
Both teams played well and whatever happened on the p!tch should remain on the p!tch. We move on
This is typical of Man Shitty. When billions of money can’t buy you the win you wanted, they can only bribe the referee team, EPL FA and play punk after the match had ended. Afterall, Man City had the officials’ back. After 7 games, how many of City players were carded for small niggling fouls??
Dan I think is wrong to act as if Haaland did right by throwing the to Gabriel’s head.
Never said that mate
Clearly said if he had been booked it’s his own fault for his actions
All this talk of but this player did that and this player did that.
Whether he did or didn’t hurt Gabriel is besides the point, when you see some of the bookings that are being given out by some of these incompetent referees, and then you see what Haaland did he should have been given a card whether you believe it be yellow or red.
If a player anywhere else on that pitch had seen fit to chuck a ball at the opponents head, he would have got a straight red for violent conduct if the referee was doing his job correctly.
The fact that it was near the end of the game and that City had just scored in neither here nor there.
It strikes me that VAR see what they want to see.
I agree mate but we can’t complain then when we benefit from poor officiating turn the other cheek
Obviously Dan we don’t normally complain when bad officiating benefits our team.
But I find it rather two-faced really, whether it’s for or against us, it deserves to be called out.
That word consistency needs to rear its head again. (Sadly it won’t).
Maybe you should go watch Bournemouth’s quick free kick where the fouled player was still on the ground. The goal that resulted from it stood. So Calafiori’s goal isn’t poor officiating. Trossard’S red, Doku’s unnoticed delay tactic, Halaand’s violent conductan, hypocrite Bernando Silva ranting after the game like a little puppy (FYI he was booked alongside Ederson for delaying the game against FULHAM – “no mentality he said”), and Guardiola’s kick on the chair without reprimand constituted poor decision making on that match day. Stop being too satisfied with Oliver’s mediocrity. That’s not loving peace. Arteta got punished for sideline antics a lot and so much more.