Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has issued a warning to title rivals Manchester City after Sunday’s fierce encounter at the Etihad.
The top two from the last two Premier League seasons treated viewers to a pulsating 2-2 draw with John Stones netting a 98th minute equaliser for the hosts.
Erling Haaland had given the champions the lead before goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel turned the game around in the first half.
Leandro Trossard was sent off after receiving a second yellow for kicking the ball away but the Gunners almost held on to claim all three points.
It was a game of many heated moments with Haaland seen purposefully throwing the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head as his side celebrated Stones’ late strike.
Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has issued a warning to title rivals Manchester City
The Brazilian defender said he doesn’t remember Haaland throwing the ball at himÂ
The pair then squared up to each other after shortly after the restart but Gabriel insists he was unfazed by the ball throw itself.Â
Asked about the incident afterwards, Gabriel said: ‘I don’t even remember this [Haaland’s throw].
‘It’s normal, they were happy after scoring in the last minute. They were playing at home, so their duty was to win the match, but our team did really well to resist.’
The Brazilian also issued a warning to their title rivals before the return fixture at the Emirates stadium.
Gabriel has told Man City his side will be waiting for them at the Emirates Stadium
He added: ‘It’s a battle, a war, so it’s normal to have provocative acts in football, it’s part of the game. Now this is over and we are waiting for them at our ground.’
VAR reviewed the incident with Haaland and Gabriel and deemed that no action was necessary at the time, and now it is understood the Norwegian will not face any retrospective punishment either.Â
