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Coward’s move: Ian Wright slams Manchester City’s Erling Haaland for throwing ball at Arsenal’s Gabriel’s head

An FA spokesperson later confirmed that the incident involving Haaland and Gabriel was checked by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the time and no further action was deemed necessary.

Erling Haaland ball on Gabriel Manchester City vs Arsenal

The incident occurred just after City's John Stones had equalized for the champions in added time after they were trailing 2-1 to a 10-man Arsenal team. Haaland would then pluck the ball out of Arsenal's net and threw it at Gabriel's head. (Screengrabs: X)

Former Arsenal player Ian Wright slammed Manchester City’s Erling Haaland for throwing the ball at Arsenal centreback Gabriel Magalhaes, terming the Norwegian’s act as ‘cowardly’ after City’s 2-2 draw against the Gunners.

The incident occurred just after City’s John Stones had equalized for the champions in added time after they were trailing 2-1 to a 10-man Arsenal team. Haaland would then pluck the ball out of Arsenal’s net and threw it at Gabriel’s head.

“The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move, bro. I saw it this morning properly. Throwing the ball in Gabi’s head when he’s not looking. When Gabi’s back’s turned to him. Real coward’s move. Gabi would look him in the eye, you know,” Wright posted on Instagram.

🚨🇳🇴 Erling Haaland not expected to face any retrospective punishment for throwing the ball at the back of Gabriel Magalhaes' head.

VAR reviewed the incident at the time, and deemed no action was necessary, @Jack_Gaughan reports. pic.twitter.com/e714HRzizu

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 23, 2024

“I’m looking at this as a really good defender vs striker for the years to come, them two. I love watching them two. And then you’re doing a coward’s move like that … I thought you was bigger than that, bro. I thought you was bigger than that,” he added.

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An FA spokesperson later confirmed that the incident involving Haaland and Gabriel was checked by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the time and no further action was deemed necessary.

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Earlier, Arsenal had forward Leandro Trossard sent off for a second yellow card before halftime for kicking the ball away after being penalised for a challenge on Bernardo Silva.

The 24-year-old Norwegian international Haaland, who opened the scoring against Arsenal in the ninth minute, has 10 goals in five league appearances this season in what could be a third consecutive Golden Boot campaign.