Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has stated he has “no regrets” about throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes during their 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last month.
The match, a tense affair between title contenders Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, saw John Stones’ late equalizer leave Arsenal devastated. Haaland and Gabriel engaged in a physical battle throughout the match, with both players finding the back of the net.
After Stones’ equalizer, Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head, adding to the tension. A video of the incident circulated widely, showing Haaland’s antics. When asked about the incident, Haaland, who avoided punishment from the FA, was unapologetic. Speaking at a press conference while on international duty, he remarked, “It was in the heat of the moment and a lot of stuff happened in that game. Things that happen on the football pitch stay there, and that’s how it is.” When questioned further if he had any regrets, Haaland smiled and said, “I don’t regret much in life.”
Gabriel, in response, seemed unfazed, telling The Mirror, “We are waiting for Man City at our ground. Haaland? I don’t remember what he did. It’s normal. But anyway, congratulations.”
Heading into the international break, both Arsenal and Manchester City are locked in a tight Premier League race, trailing Liverpool. Arsenal will resume action with an away fixture against Bournemouth, while Manchester City face Wolves away. Both teams also have key Champions League games shortly after the break, with Arsenal hosting Shakhtar Donetsk and City taking on Sparta Prague at home.
