Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says Arsenal defender Gabriel should have been sent off during Sunday’s Premier League meeting between the two sides.
Haaland and Gabriel had an ongoing battle throughout the game, with the Brazilian ripping the City player’s undershirt at one point.
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In the final 10 minutes, the pair went nose-to-nose after another coming-together, with Gabriel pushing his head into Haaland’s face.
Both players were cautioned but Haaland felt the card should have been a different colour for his opposite number.
“I think that is a red card,” said the Norwegian. “Most of you agree with me on this. If I go down, it’s a red card. I would never do this. My father taught me this – stay on your feet. That’s the reality.
“Maybe yes I should have gone down, maybe it would be easier, but I didn’t and I got a yellow card for it.”
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Referring to the earlier incident, he said: “I think my shirt got a bit pulled. I didn’t get the foul, this is the Premier League nowadays. It’s wrestling here and there. A lot of duels. A lot of scratches.
“Sometimes my missus is not so happy about this, it looks a bit wrong! But that’s the reality.”
City’s monumental 2-1 victory, in which Haaland scored a second-half winner, took them to within three points of leaders Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s men can go top with victory at Burnley on Wednesday.
“We’re calm,” added Haaland. “There are a few of us who have been in this situation before. A few new, a lot of new.
“It’s about staying calm and thinking about what you can do.”
