Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland has voiced his belief that Arsenal defender Gabriel should have been expelled from the pitch after the Brazilian’s reckless head‑butt attempt during City’s 2-1 triumph over the Gunners. The two players met once more on Sunday, with Haaland outmuscling the defender to net the decisive goal before tempers flared and the two squared up.

Gabriel thrust his head toward the forward, but the referee, Anthony Taylor, chose to book both men rather than issue a sending‑off. Former Premier League official Mike Dean later suggested that the Arsenal player escaped a harsher punishment, a view echoed by Haaland, who said his own composure prevented the incident from escalating further.

"I think it’s a red card," Haaland said in the post‑match interview. "Most people would agree with me. If I had gone down like any other player, it would have been a red.

That’s not something I would do. My dad taught me to stay on my feet." He continued, "Should I have gone down?

Maybe. It would have been easier, but I stayed upright and only got a yellow.

I still don’t understand why." Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville also weighed in, noting that Gabriel was fortunate not to face a stricter sanction. "If Gabriel scores late on, City will be absolutely furious," Neville remarked on his podcast. He compared the incident to a previous clash involving Steve McManaman in a Manchester derby, explaining that a head‑to‑head clash might earn each player a yellow, but a push forward into the opponent’s face usually warrants a red.

Neville was surprised that Taylor treated both players equally, adding that Haaland’s restraint – he did not clutch his face or retaliate – likely helped keep the situation from spiralling. "I don’t want to see players sent off, but Gabriel was lucky. Pep Guardiola would have been very vocal if Gabriel had scored late or if City had conceded," Neville said.

The controversy was later dissected on Sky’s Ref Watch programme by former referee Dermot Gallagher and former player‑turned‑analyst Jay Bothroyd, who reached opposite conclusions. Gallagher defended the referee’s decision, describing the outcome as "fair" given the aggressive nature of both sides throughout the match. He argued that Gabriel’s motion was not a true head‑butt, noting that the defender’s head struck the front of Haaland rather than his face, and praised Haaland for staying on his feet, which prevented the referee from having to reassess the situation.

"If Haaland had hit the deck, the whole landscape would have changed," Gallagher said. Bothroyd, however, was less forgiving. He pointed out that the Laws of the Game define violent conduct as any deliberate use of the head against an opponent’s face, which should result in a red card.

"Gabriel was lucky – the rules say that’s a red. We have seen other players sent off for similar actions," Bothroyd argued.

He concurred with Haaland’s assessment, warning that a red would have meant a three‑match ban for the defender. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also chimed in, calling Gabriel’s action "stupid" and "very lucky".

Carragher said he prefers not to see players sent off for such incidents, but acknowledged that a head‑butt is a clear red‑card offence. He added that the defender avoided missing three crucial games in a tightly contested title race.

Haaland’s winning goal has kept Manchester City within three points of the league leaders, with a game in hand. A victory over Burnley on Wednesday would see them reclaim the top spot for the first time since August.

Reflecting on the rivalry, Haaland admitted he was unsure whether City had penetrated Mikel Arteta’s mindset, but stressed that his focus remained on repeating past success. "I don’t know – you have to ask them," he said when asked if City were on Arsenal’s mind. "The last four seasons they have come up short. For now they are still first.

They have been the best team this season. I don’t want to talk too much about them. We just focus on ourselves.

In three days, it’s a new game. Recover, eat well, relax and concentrate on the next match."