Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad on Sunday. But the talking point after the match is one incident — Gabriel Magalhães pushed his head into Erling Haaland and walked away with just a yellow card.
The Match
City started well. Rayan Cherki scored a brilliant opener in the 16th minute. But two minutes later, Donnarumma made a costly mistake — his clearance cannoned off Havertz's foot and into the net. 1-1.
In the second half, Haaland swivelled inside the box to score. 2-1. Arsenal fought until the end — Gabriel thumped a header against the base of the post.
The Incident
In the final minutes, Haaland and Gabriel squared up. Gabriel leaned his head forward and pushed it into Haaland's face. Referee Anthony Taylor booked both players with yellow cards. VAR confirmed the decision.
Haaland's Response
"I think most agree with me. If I go down like any other guy, it's a red card. But I will not fall on the floor as easily like this. He comes up to my face. Yellow card for me — I don't know why."
What the Experts Say
Former referee Mike Dean: "It's not the cleverest thing to do. He runs a massive risk."
Jamie Carragher: "Gabriel was definitely lucky. It's silly and he's lucky to get away with it."
What's at Stake
City are now three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. Haaland mentioned that history too: "The last four seasons they have come up short. For now, they are still first. But I don't want to speak too much about them."
