Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has responded bluntly after being questioned about his decision to throw a ball at Arsenal’s Gabriel MagalhĆ£es during their heated clash on September 22. The match, played at the Etihad Stadium, was marked by tense exchanges, with City players like John Stones and Bernardo Silva accusing Arsenal of using “dirty” tactics. Silva went as far as saying, “Only one team came to play football, and the other played to the limits of what the referee allowed.”
One of the most talked-about moments was Haaland throwing a ball at Gabriel’s head, which occurred shortly after Stones scored a late equalizer for City. Arsenal had been close to securing a victory, but Stonesā last-minute goal rescued a point for the home side. As City celebrated, Haaland was seen hurling the ball at Gabriel, sparking widespread discussion after the game.
Gabriel downplayed the incident in his post-match interview, saying, “It’s a battle, a war, and provocation is normal in football… I donāt remember it. Itās normal.”
Now, more than two weeks later, Haaland has finally addressed the incident during a press conference ahead of Norway’s Nations League match against Slovenia. “In the heat of the moment, things happen,” Haaland said. “What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch.” When asked if he regretted the action, the 24-year-old striker replied, “I donāt regret much in life.”
The incident drew criticism, including from Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who called Haaland’s action “a cowardās move” in a video posted on Instagram. Wright expressed his disappointment, saying, “Throwing the ball at Gabiās head when heās not looking… thatās a real cowardās move. I thought you were bigger than that, bro.” Wright further emphasized the potential for a long-term rivalry between Gabriel and Haaland, adding, “I love watching them battle, but this was disappointing.”
Despite the criticism, Haaland remains unapologetic, sticking to his stance that what happens during a game should stay on the field.
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