Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes was involved in a controversial incident with Erling Haaland where he was lucky to not be shown a red card
18:21, 19 Apr 2026Updated 18:39, 19 Apr 2026
Gabriel and Erling Haaland
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Arsenal defender Gabriel escaped a red card for the clash with Man City star Erling Haaland(Image: Sky Sports)
Gabriel Magalhaes has been told he was fortunate to not be sent off after an altercation with Erling Haaland during Manchester City's clash against Arsenal.
Gary Neville and former Premier League referee Mike Dean both shared similar verdicts on his conduct. The latter said on Sky Sports: "I think they have both gone head-to-head, there's not excessive force by Gabriel but he has just put head his head toward a little bit more.
"I think the way the game has gone with those two, I think a yellow card is probably just about right. I wouldn't have been surprised had Gabriel been sent off, there is a a movement."
Gabriel Magalhaes and Erling Haaland clash
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Gabriel appeared to push his head into the face of Erling Haaland
Dean added: "Looking at it again, Gabriel is very lucky not to be sent off."
The Premier League Match Centre on X wrote: "#MCIARS – 83' 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."
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The duo had clashed on several occasions in the huge title match at Etihad Stadium with one incident seeing Haaland's shirt ripped completely off his body.
City striker Haaland had earlier bullied Gabriel on his way to scoring City's decisive second goal with Rayan Cherki's superb opener initially cancelled out by a bizarre Kai Havertz strike.
The latter had a golden opportunity to net another equaliser in added time, but he guided his header narrowly over the bar. Before City's winning goal, Eberechi Eze struck the post with Gabriel also heading against the upright midway through the second half.
Eberechi Eze in action for Arsenal against Manchester City
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Eberechi Eze was one of two Arsenal stars to hit the post against Man City in the second half
Arsenal largely struggled to stamp their mark on the game with Neville issuing a clear verdict as City moved to within three points of the leaders.
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He said: "City are on the right track and it's a very difficuly train to stop right now if you are Arsenal. Serial winners, serial champions, doing what they do: coming out on top in big, big matches
"Arsenal haven't froze here, haven't played badly even but that still wasn't enough. City just upped it a gear and I have to say, I don't normally mention a man of the match at the end of a game like this but Bernardo Silva, that was absolutely incredible."
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