- Erling Haaland cut a figure of nuisance during Man City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal
- At full time he approached Mikel Arteta and delivered a punchy message
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Erling Haaland bossed around Mikel Arteta with a two-word command at full time after Manchester City’s breathtaking 2-2 comeback against Arsenal on Sunday.
The City striker was in a tempestuous mood at the Etihad, throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head after John Stones‘ last-gasp equaliser and appearing to say ‘who the f*** are you?’ to Arsenal’s 17-year-old substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly.
City had looked down and out when David Raya claimed the ball from a corner and subsequently launched it long for Kai Havertz to chase deep in stoppage time.
But eight minutes into stoppage time John Stones pounced on a deflection to ignite hysteria among the home fans, with City remaining atop the Premier League table.
In the aftermath Haaland’s spirit of mischief did not fade as he approached Arsenal boss Arteta and told him to ‘stay humble’, slapping the Spaniard on the shoulder.
Erling Haaland told Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’ after Man City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal
The Manchester City striker was involved in a conforntation with Gabriel after throwing the ball at the back of the defender’s head
Arteta watched on as his side let their lead slip in the eighth minute of stoppage time
The rivalry has intensified between City and Arsenal in the last two seasons due to their close-fought battles for the Premier League title.
Haaland clearly feels that City, who have won four titles on the spin, are still top dogs despite Arsenal coming within a whisker of toppling them away from home.
The Norwegian ran onto a lovely through ball from Savinho just nine minutes into the latest grudge match on Sunday and poked past David Raya with ease.
Arsenal, however, did not lie down and whimper.
Riccardo Calafiori scored a beautiful curling effort to level the scores and Gabriel headed home in stoppage time in the first half to give ther Gunners a lead going into the break – despite Leandro Trossard getting sent off on the cusp of half-time.
It was a case of pinning their backs against the wall after the break and they held on resolutely against an increasingly frustrated City, who managed 33 shots.
They looked to have come away with a potentially season-defining victory until City once again worked the ball into the box from a short corner and Stones found the equaliser.
That was City’s latest goal on record in a Premier League match.
Haaland lit the fuse of fury in response, throwing the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head as the Gunners defender wrapped his shirt over his face in lamentation.
Players from both teams came together in a heated exchange after the stirker’s antics.
Pep Guardiola played down Haaland’s behaviour afterwards, saying: ‘I think it was emotions and that’s it.’
More to follow.