Ian Wright hit out at a “coward’s move” from Erling Haaland as Man City came from behind to draw against Arsenal on Sunday. A wonderful strike from Riccardo Calafiori cancelled out Haaland’s opener before Gabriel Magalhaes scored before half-time to give the Gunners the lead going into the break. Arsenal had to play the entire second half with ten men after Leandro Trossard picked up a second bookable offence for kicking the ball away at the end of the first half. The pressure from Man City finally told deep in second-half stoppage time as John Stones struck an equaliser with moments to go.
After the goal went in, Haaland decided to throw the ball at the back of Arsenal defender Gabriel’s head with Wright fuming at the incident after watching it back on Monday morning. Speaking on Instagram, Wright said: “So I feel like I need to put something out there that’s been bothering me. Because obviously the Trossard sending off, in the moment, you’re frustrated, it’s 2-1. I’m thinking ‘yes we’ve got them’ and then he gets sent off for something that, let’s face it, it’s f***king foolishness what they are getting sent off for now.
“So in the moment, yeah, but he shouldn’t be sent off for that. But you know what really boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move.
“I saw it this morning properly. Throwing the ball at Gabby’s [Gabriel Magalhaes] head when he’s not looking, when Gabby’s back is turned to him. A real coward’s move. Gabby would look you in the eye. I’m looking at this like a really good defender versus striker for years to come. I love watching those two.
“And then you are doing a coward’s move like that? No no, that’s what bothered me more than anything else. I thought he was bigger than that.”
It was a heated match between the two title challengers and Man City defender Manuel Akanji reckons Arsenal have now mastered the ‘dark arts’ of the game. When put to him that Arsenal had mastered the game’s ‘dark arts’, the Switzerland international said: “Yes, I don’t think there are many better than them at it, but in the end we always won the title and I don’t think it’s going to be different this year.
“Always when we play against them, that’s what they’re looking for – going hard in the duels, defence, 11 players in their own box and then go on set-pieces and try to score a goal.
“It worked for them so if they’re happy with the one point. We’re not, we tried to get more but that’s what they’re happy with.
“At the end of the day we’re still top of the league. We haven’t lost a game yet.”
Man City v Arsenal is without question a clash between the two best teams in the country and this was the best game between them since that became true. We started to collate the astonishing stats that made Erling Haaland’s start to life in the Premier League utterly extraordinary a long time ago.
Man City striker Erling Haaland has ruled out staying in the Premier League when he eventually leaves the Etihad Stadium, according to reports. According to reports, Erling Haaland is looking to leave Manchester City and ‘two main candidates’ are leading the race to sign him.
Haaland's Fiery Post-Match Confrontation
Erling Haaland told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” in a fiery post-match handshake after Manchester City rescued a 2-2 draw in a heated clash at the Etihad. Haaland slapped Arteta on the back as he told the Arsenal boss to “stay humble, eh, stay humble” after the full-time whistle. Arteta turned around to face Haaland after hearing the comment and stared at the Norwegian striker, but then walked away.
Gabriel Jesus overheard the comment and said to Haaland in response: “Come, come why you saying, you talking” as Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg leans in. Haaland pushed Jesus away as Jack Grealish stepped in to separate the pair, as Arteta dragged Ben White and Jesus away from the scene to head towards the Arsenal supporters.
Haaland, who scored his 100th goal for City earlier in the contest, was also involved in a clash with defender Gabriel following John Stones’ equaliser in the 98th minute. Haaland picked up the ball from the net and bounced it off the back of Gabriel’s head as he ran away to celebrate with his team-mates. When Arsenal then kicked off to restart play, Haaland ran directly at Gabriel, sparking a further confrontation between the Premier League title rivals.
Bernardo Silva's Taunting Remarks
Afterwards, Bernardo Silva appeared to mock rival Arsenal players over their lack of trophies and then took aim at the Gunners’ tactics. Silva accused Arsenal of “dark arts” and said Arteta’s side wasted time as they held on with 10 men after Leandro Trossard was sent off on the stroke of half time. Afterwards, both teams clashed in the middle of the pitch with Silva appearing to taunt Arsenal’s lack of trophies by forming a ‘0’ with his thumb and forefinger and holding it towards defender Gabriel.
In a post-match interview, Silva said the difference between Manchester City’s rivalry with Arsenal and their rivalry with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool was down to trophies and that the Gunners had yet to win them. “Maybe that Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven’t. That Liverpool have won a Champions League, Arsenal haven’t,” Silva said.
“Liverpool always faced us face to face to try to win the games, so by this perspective the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had and have against Liverpool. So yes, maybe a different rivalry.”
Haaland's Controversial Actions and the FA's Response
Erling Haaland will face no retrospective punishment for throwing the ball Gabriel; Sky Sports News also understands Manchester City and Arsenal will face no retrospective punishment from the FA for their conduct during the enthralling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. In a dramatic finale to the game, Haaland threw the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head after John Stones scored City’s stoppage-time equaliser, but the FA cannot get involved because the incident was reviewed by the VAR John Brooks at the time. Brooks decided it was not an act of violent conduct and so not worthy of a red card, and the VAR cannot intervene to recommend a booking.
So, there was no on-field sanction and Haaland will face no further punishment from the FA. Sky Sports News also understands Manchester City and Arsenal will face no retrospective punishment from the FA for their conduct during the enthralling encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Whilst the FA disciplinary team reviews each contentious incident in all games every weekend, it’s thought there was no single incident on the field or on the touchline in the draw between Man City and Arsenal that is worthy of further FA action.
Haaland's Post-Match Messages and Arsenal's Tactics
Erling Haaland provoked Mikel Arteta with a two-word message during a fiery full-time interaction following Manchester City’s draw with Arsenal. The Gunners thought they were heading top of the Premier League table but were denied when John Stones prodded home a 97th-minute equaliser to rescue a point. After a cagey affair at the Etihad, emotions boiled over at full-time, with Haaland issuing a spikey message to Arteta as the two convened on the pitch.
Patting the Spaniard on the back, the City striker told the Gunners boss: ‘Stay humble, eh, stay humble.’ Having heard the comment, Arteta turned around to stare at the Norwegian striker before turning and walking away. Gabriel Jesus immediately confronted Haaland for his comments, telling the City striker: ‘Come, come why you saying, you talking.’ But Haaland was clearly in no mood to reconcile and hit back at the Brazillian, saying: ‘Talking about what? I wasn’t talking f*****g clown.’
“Stay humble eh” 🔥Listen to Erling Haaland’s comments to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta at full-time following the 2-2 draw 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sXVYrK7hw9
‘What are you talking about get the fk away you f***g clown,’ the City striker added as he pushed Jesus away, with Jack Grealish and Ben White stepping in to dissolve the confrontation. It marked a drama-filled game for Haaland who notched up his 100th City goal in the first half with a cool finish past David Raya. And the 24-year-old made sure to enjoy Stones’ late equaliser, gathering the ball from the back of the net before bouncing it off the back of Gabriel’s head.
Reactions and Analysis
New footage emerging on Monday has revealed the two-word message issued to Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. The pair came face to face on the Etihad Stadium pitch after Manchester City had rescued a late point against 10-man Arsenal, following a second-half that saw the visitors attempt every football ‘dark art’ in the book. With nine-men behind the ball forming a low block in front of David Raya’s goal, Arsenal players repeatedly went down with cramp, delayed play, and also continued to kick the ball away on set-pieces despite having seen Leandro Trossard dismissed for the same issue.
John Stones’ equaliser in the eighth minute of additional time brought all emotion out of Manchester City, with Erling Haaland in particular showcasing his joy at his side snatching what they thoroughly deserved from the second-half of the game. Speaking on the field after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in a fiery encounter between the two Premier League title rivals, Sky Sports cameras captured the confrontation between Erling Haaland and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Gabriel Jesus. In cheeky comments to Arsenal manager, Arteta after the game, Haaland repeatedly told the Emirates Stadium boss to “stay humble”, before being confronted over his words by the Gunners forward, Gabriel Jesus.
Going face to face with the Brazil international, Haaland continued, “What what what what… Talking about what, I wasn’t talking, fg clown. What are you talking about, get the fk away you f**g clown.”
“Stay humble eh” 🔥Listen to Erling Haaland's comments to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta at full-time following the 2-2 draw 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sXVYrK7hw9
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 23, 2024
This is a developing story. More to follow.
