‘We are waiting for them’ – Gabriel breaks silence over Haaland’s ‘provocative act’ after Man City goal against Arsenal
GABRIEL MAGALHAES has issued a chilling warning to Manchester City after emotions boiled over in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad.
The Gunners had gone a goal behind early on through an expertly taken Erling Haaland goal.
https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1837965092102852659However, a Riccardo Calafiori screamer and Gabriel header saw the visitors take an unexpected lead over the reigning champions.
But the game was turned on its head when Michael Oliver controversially sent off Leandro Trossard for delaying the restart – the same reason Declan Rice was red carded for against Brighton.
After 50 minutes of stoic defending in the second half, John Stones eventually broke the Arsenal red wall with a 97th-minute equaliser.
Following the goal, Haaland was seen running into the goal and grabbing the ball before throwing it at the back of Gabriel’s head while he had his shirt over his head.
Asked about the act afterwards, Gabriel said: “I don’t even remember this [Haaland’s throw].
“It’s normal, they were happy after scoring in the last minute.
“They were playing at home, so their duty was to win the match, but our team did really well to resist.”
The Brazilian also issued a warning to their title rivals before the return fixture at the Emirates stadium.
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He added: “It’s a battle, a war, so it’s normal to have provocative acts in football, it’s part of the game.
“Now this is over and we are waiting for them at our ground.”
Haaland was incensed at the full-time whistle and was heard saying “Stay humble eh,” to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta before confronting Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus was heard defending his manager, saying: “Come, come why you saying [that], you talking?”
Jack Grealish stepped between the pair as Haaland pushed Jesus away, with the Brazilian firing back: “Don’t touch me.”
Haaland replied: “What the f*** are you talking about? Get away from me you f***ing clown.”
We thought games like this had been lost
SunSport's NEIL CUSTIS hails chaotic Man City vs Arsenal clash as a return to the Premier League of yesteryear.
FOR two teams who have done so much to take the game forward this really was a tremendous throwback.
We thought these games had been lost.
Real feisty encounters between two rivals fighting for the top honours.
How we used to love it when Manchester United came up against Arsenal when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in charge.
When Roy Keane, watching on as a TV pundit here, used to clash with Patrick Vieira before a ball had been kicked.
The Manchester derbies used to have it as well.
In fact that were clashes everywhere throughout the league.
Since then the emphasis on the beauty of the game, the tactical side, the ball playing centre-back, the false nine, the inverted full-backs have all come to the fore.
But English football still loves something like this.
Compare this to the two matches between this pair last season not least the really STALEmate here.
Then along comes a blood and thunder classic.
A match to set the tone for what we all hope will be a real title tussle to the end but with that added edge.
While these two managers maybe good friends who knows we may even get the niggly comments in pre-match press conferences about each others teams.
We knew we were in for something a bit different as straight from the kick-off Kai Havertz charged into Rodri and left him flawed.
The first players’ melee ensued.
Foreign coaches often scratch their heads as to why English crowds love stuff like this.
Love a thumping tackle, or a bit of a barney.
How that as much as any sweeping move gets them to the edge of their seats and there was plenty of that here.
Jurrien Timber was employed on the right to combat the pace of Jeremy Doku.
SO Doku just charged into him and floored him.
Rodri was clearly seen as one of City’s key men so at a corner Thoams Party followed up Havertz’s early example and caught him behind the knee, and the player hobbled out of the action.
Gabriel and Erling Haaland was a classic battle between a big centre-forward and an Arsenal centre-back who performs like greats of old like Tony Adams and Martin Keown.
A player for whom a thumping tackle warrants the same high fives or celebrations as something defining at the other end of the pitch.
Haaland did brilliantly to pull away William Saliba and slip behind Gabriel for his goal.
Gabriel will have been fuming having kept the big Norwegian so quiet last season.
He barely gave him another sniff of goal, barring a second-half header saved, as he stuck to him, the pair often pushing and shoving one another as Haaland became frustrated with his shadow.
Leandro Trossard did not get his second yellow and therefore the only red for the actual barge on Bernardo as everyone first thought but for kicking the ball away after that.
Both technical areas were a flurry of arm waving and shouting from the two managers.
The staff on the two benches started having a go at each other and Guardiola had to intervene.
In the press box one of Arsenal’s technical staff was losing it.
As Arsenal players went down with cramp and played for time the boos went up.
The fourth official was getting in the ear.
Michael Oliver was being told he was not fit to referee by a large section of the home support.
When Arsenal fans were spotted in the posh seats having been in the expensive tunnel club City fans shouted and pointed to try and get them ejected.
Right at the end after City’s dramatic equaliser and the game restarted Haaland barged into Partey and every player on the pitch got involved even the two goalkeepers.
At the final whistle the ref was harrangued.
On the touchline Guardiola and Arteta hugged.
The 24-year-old was also seen aiming an X-rated blast at Myles Lewis-Skelley as he said: “Who the f*** are you?”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright labelled Haaland as a “coward” for throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head.
Taking to Instagram, he said: “You know what really boiled me up properly was Haaland’s cowardly move.
“Throwing the ball at Gabi’s [Gabriel] head when he’s not looking. When Gabi’s back is turned to him, a real coward’s move. Gabi would look you in the eye.
“I’m looking at this like a really good defender vs striker for years to come. I really like watching them two and then you’re doing a coward’s move like that?
“That’s what bothered me more than anything else. I thought you were bigger than that bro.”
The fallout from the game has also seen Rodri, who was forced off the pitch in the first half through injury, sidelined for what could be the rest of the season after sustaining a torn cruciate ligament injury.
Arsenal ratings vs Man City
TEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.
Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.
Here’s how the players rated…
DAVID RAYA – 9
Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol.
RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8
A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.
GABRIEL – 9
Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 8
Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 8
Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4
Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.
SUBS
WHITE – 7
(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.
KIWIOR – 6
(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.
JESUS – 6
(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutes
LEWIS SKELLY – 6
(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.
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