Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday wasn’t just about goals, shots, and tactical surprises. It was also about a rivalry that keeps heating up every time Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhaes step onto the pitch.
In the final moments, tempers flared yet again. Gabriel confronted Haaland, and the Norwegian striker responded by pointing to the golden Premier League winners badge on his sleeve. According to lip reading expert Nicola Hickling, Haaland told Gabriel, “Don’t forget it, look at it, you’d love this, eh? Don’t forget it, yeah.” His words were a reminder of City’s status as reigning champions.
Mikel Arteta, though thrilled with the result, was less pleased with the taunts. He later told reporters that he wants his players to stay focused on what they can control. He’s rarely one to encourage showboating, especially when passions are running high on the pitch.
Gabriel wasn’t alone in poking fun at Haaland. After scoring Arsenal’s third goal, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly struck Haaland’s signature meditation pose in what felt like a cheeky nod to the forward’s usual celebrations. It riled up City’s backline and turned the spotlight onto the rivalry between these two sides.
An emerging rivalry intensified
Haaland and Gabriel have clashed before. In a previous meeting, the City striker threw the ball at Gabriel’s head during a heated moment. This time around, Gabriel celebrated Arsenal’s opening goal in Haaland’s face, a gesture Gary Neville described as “disrespectful.” Some fans loved the banter, but others felt it crossed a line.
While Haaland did manage to score City’s lone goal, he rarely found space to operate. Gabriel and the rest of Arsenal’s defense stayed tight. Their focus frustrated City all afternoon, and that frustration seemed to boil over in the final exchanges.
For Arsenal, the victory put them closer to challenging for top honors, though Arteta quickly said the title race is far from decided. “We need to continue doing the things that we can control,” he said. In his view, controlling emotions on the field is part of that.
Even so, tensions between Haaland and Gabriel aren’t likely to cool off any time soon.
