- Haaland questions Anthony Taylor showing him a yellow card after Gabriel headbutt incident
- Man City star admits he could’ve gotten Gabriel sent off but didn’t want to go down that easy
- City can go top of the Premier League if they beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has discussed the controversy around Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães headbutting him on Sunday.
Gabriel was shown a mere yellow card for headbutting Haaland – an action that can easily draw a straight red card for violent conduct – in the second-half of Arsenal‘s crushing and potentially title-deciding 2-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland got the better of Arsenal’s Brazilian defender, whom the Norway international has enjoyed great battles with over the years, this weekend as he netted the all-important winner for Manchester City, who closed the gap to the Gunners to three points this weekend.
Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
City can go top of the Premier League with a win away at Burnley on Wednesday night in their game in hand over Mikel Arteta‘s men as the Blues progress their pursuit of a domestic treble to give departing club captain Bernardo Silva a successful send-off.
I will not go down that easily, says Haaland
It can well be argued that had Haaland gone down as a result of Gabriel’s headbutt, referee Anthony Taylor would have had no choice but to send the Arsenal centre-half off.
“I think 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,” Haaland said in a candid post-match interview with Sky Sports.
“I’m not sure but it is what it is. I will not fall on the floor as easy like this. Yellow card, for me I don’t know why. He (Gabriel) comes up to my face. It is what it is.”
To explain Taylor’s decision to only show Gabriel a yellow card, the Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of no red card was checked and confirmed by VAR, with the action from Gabriel deemed not to be excessively aggressive or violent.”
Haaland makes the difference in Man City win vs Arsenal
Haaland has by no means been firing on all cylinders so far in 2026 and has actually endured a drop-off from his incredible scoring rate in the first half of the Premier League campaign.
“Stay humble” – Erling Haaland’s title race message to Manchester City squad after Arsenal win
However, the 25-year-old rose to the occasion and scored arguably Manchester City’s most crucial goal and one that could have major implications for Arsenal’s title aspirations.
The Norwegian gave a cheeky side-eye to cameras after the full-time whistle on Sunday and even enjoyed a sing-song as he revelled in a monumental Manchester City win that gives the Blues a real chance of hijacking Arsenal’s lead at the top of the tree.
“Stay humble” was the message from Manchester City’s number nine to his teammates ahead of their last six games of the league campaign and Guardiola will be ensuring his players don’t get ahead of themselves as they look to record a trophy-laden end to what has been a topsy-turvy season at times.
