It has almost been a week since Arsenal and Manchester City faced each other, but people are still talking about what happened during and after the game.
The rivalry between the two Premier League title contenders is getting more and more feisty, and it looks like the animosity between the clubs has now gone to a whole new level.
Manchester City players like Bernardo Silva have had a pop at Arsenal’s style of play after going down to 10 men at the Etihad last Sunday,
Arsenal, however, feel Manchester City are rattled, and some of their players’ actions during and after the game prove that.
Now, Pep Guardiola has had his say about one of his men.
Pep Guardiola reacts to Erling Haaland’s antics vs Arsenal
Erling Haaland showed a bad side of his game against Arsenal last Sunday.
The Norwegian is arguably the best striker in the world, and it was his goal that put Manchester City ahead after just nine minutes.
However, Haaland got more and more annoyed as the game went on because Arsenal came from behind to take the lead and then defended incredibly well for most of the second half despite going down to 10 men.
After John Stones scored his last-minute winner, Haaland decided to throw the ball into the back of Gabriel’s head – that, in our opinion, is a red card offence, but the VAR decided to ignore it.
Then, the striker barged into Thomas Partey and Gabriel after the game kicked off. After the full-time whistle, Haaland had the audacity to tell Mikel Arteta to stay humble.
Arsenal fans have been furious with Haaland since, and his manager, Guardiola, has now had his say on his striker’s antics.
The Spaniard says he’s pretty sure that Haaland is ‘not proud’ of his actions.
He said, as relayed on Hayters TV: “Gabriel said it perfectly in the press after the match, so this is a war. We have to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do?
“You provoke me, OK, I’m there. You want a war? Now we war.
“After, the emotions are the emotions. I’m pretty sure he (Haaland) is not proud. But, listen, the type of challenge that Arsenal challenge us, I understand it.”
READ MORE: Arsenal fans all have a theory about Ben White after he was led away from Erling Haaland
When will Arsenal face Manchester City next?
The tensions when the two teams meet each other next will be extremely high.
Arsenal will want to prove a point at home after all the talk from Guardiola and his men, while Manchester City will hope to get a win after failing to beat the Gunners in each of their last four meetings.
Arteta’s side host City at the Emirates on the 1st of February, which is still a few months away but we’re sure both sets of players have that date in mind.
However, Arsenal have a disadvantage going into the game against Manchester City at the Emirates.
The Londoners have back-to-back away games against Wolves and Girona before they host Guardiola’s side, while City’s two fixtures before the clash at the Emirates are at the Etihad – they’ll have no travelling to do.
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