The news that Erling Haaland won’t face any punishment for throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel after City’s dramatic equaliser has split fans.
The FA have announced that no Man City or Arsenal players will face retrospective action for their behaviour in the fiery game between title contenders. Many fans have speculated that the FA could discipline several players after the highly charged clash.
The incident that drew the most reaction online occurred after John Stones’s late goal. As most City players wheeled away to celebrate, Haaland went into the goal and picked up the ball. He then threw it at the back of Gabriel’s head before running off to join his teammates.
The flashpoint was one of several throughout the fiery clash. Tensions were high from the very start, with Rodri and Kai Havertz smashing into each other just seconds after the kickoff.
Haaland steamed into an aerial duel with William Saliba early on and found the net in the ninth minute. The full-time whistle didn’t signal the end of Haaland’s antics as he clashed with several Arsenal players and was caught on camera telling Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’.
Arsenal also contributed to the aggressive atmosphere. Leandro Trossard received a second yellow on the brink of halftime for kicking the ball away. The decision has sparked heated debate among fans in the days since the game.
After going down to ten men, The Gunners played without an attacker and sat back for the entire second half. Man City fans and players became increasingly frustrated with their opponents’ time-wasting and negative tactics.
As you’d expect, each club’s fans have reacted differently to the flashpoints. Many Arsenal fans predicted Haaland would face retrospective punishment. The confirmation he won’t has left them outraged. Arsenal having two players sent off for kicking the ball away in recent weeks has only boosted their anger.
Not all fans disliked the behaviour on display. Many people celebrated the return of what looks like a real rivalry at the top of the Premier League. City’s dominance in the past decade has led many fans to reminisce over the classic Premier League rivalries, especially the one between Manchester United and Arsenal in the early noughties. Like the result, the latest odds suggest there’s not much between them. Rodri’s long-term injury will only make the race for this year’s title even more competitive.
Gabriel was asked about Haaland after the game, and unlike some Arsenal fans, he shrugged the incident off, telling TNT Sports, “No, I don’t remember it. I don’t remember it. It’s normal. Battle, war, provocation is normal in football. It is part of the game. It’s over now.”
The spirited action and the subsequent fallout have made the reverse fixture in February a must-watch game. We can expect another contentious encounter, particularly if both sides are still pushing for the title.
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