Erling Haaland offers brutal answer to questions over incident with Gabriel during Man City 2-2 Arsenal last month

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has broken his silence around the incident involving himself and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes last month.

The Premier League title challengers from the last two seasons played out an intense 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium in their first of two top-flight meetings scheduled for this season, with Erling Haaland opening the scoring in the first-half.

Arsenal would respond in fine fashion through goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes, before a Leandro Trossard red card saw Mikel Arteta and his players deploy football’s ‘dark arts’ to try and retain their lead in the contest.

Despite a nine-man defence behind the ball, David Raya wasting time, Myles Lewis-Skelly illegally issuing instructions to this goalkeeper behind the goal, and kicking the ball away at every opportunity, it would be John Stones who broke their efforts in the 98th minute.

That sparked wild scenes of celebration within the Etihad Stadium, including an incident caught on broadcaster channels that saw Erling Haaland throw the match ball into the back of Gabriel Magalhaes’ head before wheeling away to join his teammates.

Speaking during a recent press conference whilst away from Manchester City on national team duties with Norway, Erling Haaland was quizzed by Norwegian media around the incident involving Gabriel Magalhaes at the Etihad Stadium in September.

“In the heat of the moment things happened in that game,” Haaland said. “What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch. That’s how it is.”

Quizzed on whether he regretted the incident that led to intense scenes after the full-time whistle, Haaland brutally responded, “I don’t regret much in life.”

Arsenal’s Brazilian defender has already commented on the incident, telling reporters after the game, “We are waiting for them at our ground,” with Manchester City due to travel to the Emirates Stadium in February 2025.

He continued, “I don’t remember it (the incident with Haaland). It’s normal. But anyway, congratulations to the team for the draw. Battle, war, provocation is normal in football and it’s part of the game. It’s over now.”

Pep Guardiola also responded to the Arsenal defender’s comments during a later press conference as he said of Erling Haaland’s antics throughout the 90 minutes, “Gabriel said perfectly after the match; This is a war, we provoke the opponents, push them.

“And at the end, what can you do? ‘OK, you provoke me, OK I’m there’. You want a war? I will war.”