Erling Haaland has spoken out about his heated battle with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães following Manchester City’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026.
Haaland Reacts to Gabriel Incident
After scoring the winning goal, Haaland was involved in a fiery confrontation with Gabriel. speaking after the match, the Norwegian striker gave his honest opinion:
“If I fell on the floor, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, I think maybe it would be a red card, I’m not sure… I will not fall on the floor as easy like this. Yellow card, for me I don’t know why. He comes up to my face!”
Despite the tense moment, Haaland showed respect for his opponent, adding:
“Let’s be honest, he is an amazing player. It was a nice battle.”
Match Summary: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
Final Score: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
- Rayan Cherki (16′) – Gave City the lead with a stunning solo goal.
- Kai Havertz (18′) – Arsenal quickly equalised.
- Erling Haaland (65′) – Scored the decisive winner.
The win keeps Manchester City right in the Premier League title race. A victory against Burnley next would send them to the top of the table.
The Haaland vs Gabriel Duel
The clash between Haaland and Gabriel became one of the talking points of the match. The two physical players went head-to-head throughout the game, with several strong challenges. The most heated incident occurred late in the game when Gabriel got in Haaland’s face.
Haaland made it clear he felt the Arsenal defender was fortunate not to receive a red card for the confrontation.