
At a crucial stage in the season, Man City take control of the title race over Arsenal
Man City defeats Arsenal 2-1, closing in on the Premier League title.
Gabriel Magalhaes avoided a red card for headbutting Erling Haaland during a match, allowing him to remain eligible for Arsenal's Premier League run-in. Haaland acknowledged he could have exaggerated the incident.
Gabriel avoided a red card for pushing his head into Erling Haalandâs face (PA)
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland admitted he could have made more out of Gabriel Magalhaes pushing his head towards him, which means the Arsenal centre-back will be available for the Premier League run-in after he avoided a red card in the title showdown.
Haaland and Gabriel were involved in a long-running battle at the Etihad but tensions spilled over in the 83rd minute. It was sparked when Haaland gave Gabriel a push from the side after he had been fouled from behind by the Arsenal defender.
Gabriel reacted by putting his head towards Haalandâs and they stood for a moment with their foreheads touching. But Gabriel then made a another movement and pushed his head towards Haalandâs for a second time.
Haaland did not respond, as team-mates from both sides then broke them up. Anthony Taylor then showed both Haaland and Gabriel a yellow card for their involvement in the altercation, while the incident was checked by VAR.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Haaland said: "If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would be red card. I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don't know why he comes up to my face."
Referee John Brooks was the VAR. He decided that Gabrielâs contact towards Haalandâs head was not âdeemed not to be excessively aggressive or violentâ. He agreed with Taylorâs on-field assessment. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, received his seventh booking of the season protesting the lack of punishment. Guardiola could be seen acting out a âheadbuttâ on the touchline.
Gabriel avoided a red card because Erling Haaland admitted he could have made more of the incident, which influenced the referee's decision.
Tensions escalated when Haaland pushed Gabriel after a foul, leading Gabriel to push his head towards Haaland's face twice.
By not receiving a red card, Gabriel remains available for Arsenal's crucial matches in the Premier League title race.
Haaland acknowledged that he could have exaggerated the situation, which may have contributed to Gabriel not being sent off.

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It may raise some eyebrows, however, that Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewinâs hair in a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Monday, while Gabriel avoided harsher punishment. Gabriel also avoided an earlier yellow card after ripping Haalandâs undershirt in an earlier grapple.
As referee Taylor saw the incident, and it wasnât missed by VAR, it means Gabriel will be available for Arsenalâs next three games. Arsenal will host Newcastle and Fulham before going to West Ham in their next three Premier League fixtures, with just five games of the season remaining.
The striker told Sky Sports: âIf I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would maybe be red card. I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don't know why he comes up to my face.â
Haaland was also praised by Manchester City captain Bernando Silva, who called the striker an âanimalâ for how he competed against Gabriel and William Saliba.
âErling was fantastic today, fighting for every ball,â Silva told Sky Sports. âIt's not easy with two centre-backs that strong. Apart from the goal that he always scores, today he fought like an animal.â