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Gabriel avoided a red card for what many considered a headbutt on Erling Haaland during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, sparking debate over VAR consistency in the Premier League.
The flashpoint occurred in the 83rd minute when the Arsenal defender and City striker squared up after an aerial duel, pressing foreheads together before Gabriel pushed his head towards Haaland’s face. Referee Anthony Taylor showed both players yellow cards.
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According to BBC Sport, the incident was assessed by assistant referee who deemed it “not excessively aggressive or violent”, leading VAR John Brooks to stay out of the decision. The key factor was that Gabriel “pushed with his head rather than struck” without pulling back first to create space.
Comparison with Martinez red card
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The decision has drawn criticism when compared to Lisandro Martinez’s red card just six days earlier. The Manchester United defender was sent off after VAR review for briefly grabbing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail – an incident many viewed as less severe than Gabriel’s actions.
The crucial difference was that Martinez’s hair pull wasn’t initially spotted by the on-field team, making VAR intervention more straightforward. With Gabriel’s incident clearly seen by the assistant referee, Brooks faced a higher threshold for overturning the on-field decision.
Impact on title race
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Gabriel’s reprieve proves significant for Arsenal’s remaining fixtures. A red card would have suspended the Brazilian for three of the Gunners’ final five matches, including crucial games against Newcastle, Fulham and West Ham.
Haaland’s reaction also played a part in the outcome. The City striker stayed on his feet rather than going down dramatically, which might have prompted a VAR review. “If I go down like any other guy, it’s a red card,” Haaland admitted post-match. “Should I have gone down? Maybe. Then it would’ve been easier.”
The incident echoes Nicolas Pepe’s red card against Leeds in 2020, where the Arsenal winger was dismissed after a similar head-to-head confrontation. The key difference was Ezgjan Alioski’s theatrical reaction, falling to the ground holding his face.
With no retrospective action possible due to VAR’s assessment, Gabriel remains available for Arsenal’s title push. The decision highlights ongoing debates about VAR consistency and whether players are incentivized to exaggerate contact to influence officials.