Reuters
Chelsea's fast start at the Emirates Stadium was nearly made all the better when Gabriel was checked for a potential early red card for seemingly kicking Emiliano Martínez in the face — but the defender escaped punishment.
Having seen Morgan Rogers give them the lead after 77 seconds, a Martin Ødegaard free-kick caused chaos in the Chelsea box just minutes later.
In the scramble, Arsenal's Gabriel swung a boot and caught Martinez flush in the face. Fans were left baffled when the Brazilian defender avoided punishment.
Why Gabriel Wasn't Sent Off
Gabriel
According to Sky Sports, VAR checked the incident. Play restarted with no action taken — accidental contact, was the verdict.
The decision hinges on Law 12. Violent conduct only applies when a player uses excessive force against an opponent while not challenging for the ball, so if Gabriel is judged to be going for it, that route closes immediately.
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Serious foul play covers a challenge on the ball that uses excessive force or endangers safety — but the test is recklessness, not outcome. The referee isn't asked whether the contact looked bad, only whether the action was reckless.
VAR can only intervene on a clear and obvious error, and in a set-piece scramble where boot, ball and head arrive in the same half-second, that bar is rarely met.
Gary Neville summed up the grey area on Sky Sports: "He just missed it and after that it was an almighty scramble. It is not great from Gabriel and only he would know..."
Given Gabriel's reputation for engineering chaos at set-pieces, Arsenal's supporters weren't the ones needing convincing.
Stark Fan Reaction Reignites Gabriel Criticism
Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes clashes with Manchester City's Erling Haaland
The Arsenal centre-back was featured in the 2025/26 Team of the Year after a brilliant campaign for the Gunners, resulting in a first title in over 20 years, but he was certainly never far from controversy.
Arguably the biggest moment involved Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. The duo have famously locked horns on the biggest stage in recent seasons as their club rivalries have grown, and he was extremely fortunate not to receive any punishment for a headbutt-like movement on the Norwegian.
Even former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher commented on him on the latest episode of The Overlap, calling him a 'brilliant player' before claiming he needs to 'get off the floor'— referring to his theatrics in both boxes.
Following the Martinez incident, fans were quick to point towards his reputation for such moments, as one fan said: "Why wasn’t Gabriel booked for this? Arsenal always get away with it". Despite his successes, his aggressive nature seems to work both for him and against him as he remains one of the best in his position in the league.