A dramatic Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday ended with more than just a thrilling 2-2 draw, as Manchester City striker Erling Haaland found himself at the center of a post-match confrontation with Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and several players.
The incident happened after City salvaged a point in stoppage time, courtesy of a John Stones equalizer. Haaland had earlier opened the scoring for City just nine minutes into the game, latching onto a pass from Savinho and finishing with precision. While the hosts looked in control, Arsenal mounted a spirited comeback, taking the lead before Stones’ last-gasp goal leveled the score.
However, the drama didn’t end there. After the final whistle, tensions boiled over when Haaland was filmed in a heated exchange with Arsenal players and staff. The altercation reportedly began with Haaland making comments to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
In a video shared on social media, Haaland is heard saying, “Stay humble, eh, stay humble” to Arteta. This provoked Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, who immediately confronted Haaland, asking, “Why you saying that? Talking about what?”
READ MORE: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: John Stones strikes late to deny Gunners maximum points
The situation quickly escalated, with Haaland allegedly calling Jesus a “clown,” leading to a face-off between the two players. Both teams’ staff and players quickly intervened to separate them and diffuse the situation.
Mikel Arteta, visibly surprised by the confrontation, remained composed as he attempted to calm his players, particularly Jesus. The altercation has added further intrigue to the rivalry between City and Arsenal, as both teams are expected to battle it out for the Premier League title this season.
Speaking about the incident later, Haaland addressed the confrontation, hinting that his comments were in the heat of the moment. “It’s football, emotions run high, especially in games like these. I respect Arsenal and their players, but sometimes things get a bit intense.”
The Premier League may review the incident, with the possibility of further action depending on the findings. As both teams remain neck-and-neck at the top of the table, this clash adds an extra edge to what is shaping up to be one of the fiercest title races in recent years.
