Mark Clattenburg has exclusively told Arsenal Insider that Gabriel Magalhaes was very fortunate not to have seen red for his clash with Erling Haaland.
The Brazilian defender foolishly moved his head towards the Man City striker late in the game as tempers flared in a huge Premier League clash.
🔴 Was Gabriel Magalhaes lucky not to have seen red vs Man City?
Gabriel had a shocking performance and had a serious battle on his hands with Haaland, who ended up coming out on top.
Following the game, the Arsenal defender can consider himself lucky not to have been sent off for the clash with Haaland late on.
Exclusive: Mark Clattenburg says Gabriel Magalhaes was lucky not to have been sent off
Mark Clattenburg claims that Gabriel Magalhaes was lucky not to have been shown two yellow cards for clashing with Erling Haaland.
In the 83rd minute, the pair came together and locked heads before Gabriel went back in and made a clear attempt to headbutt the Man City man.
All afternoon, both players were at it, and it was quite clear that at some stage, there was going to be a real flare-up between them.
Speaking to Arsenal Insider, Clattenburg said: “Gabriel is very fortunate not to receive a red card for violent conduct for an attempted head butt on Erling Haaland.
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“When both players put their heads together, I would expect two yellow cards for adopting an aggressive attitude.
“But when Gabriel makes a clear movement of his head again, then a red card should have been shown even if contact was not made.”
Arsenal fans should be seething at the defender, who should know better than to get into such situations in such a big match.
Gabriel is such an experienced player now, and a long ban at this stage would be massive for the Gunners’ remaining hopes at the title.
The title race is now so close, with City having the chance to leapfrog Arsenal during midweek if they can win away at Burnley.
Erling Haaland on clashing with Gabriel Magalhaes
Haaland has suggested that if he had fallen on the floor after the clash with Gabriel, a red card would have been shown, but he made it clear that he would never do that.
“I think if I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really hurts me, I think maybe it would be a red card, I’m not sure,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“I haven’t seen the situation, to be honest, but it is what it is. I will not fall on the floor as easily as this. I don’t know why, he comes up to my face.”
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