Arsenal vs Manchester City: Did Gabriel Magalhães Escape a Red Card?

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[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Geon-ho] It was a huge relief Gabriel Magalhães wasn’t sent off.

Arsenal fell 2-1 to Manchester City in Round 33 of the 2025–26 Premier League at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on the 20th at 12:30 AM (KST).

It felt like a six-pointer between title contenders. Arsenal’s loss narrowed the gap at the top. Arsenal sit first with 21 wins, 7 draws and 5 losses (70 points), while Manchester City are second with 20 wins, 7 draws and 5 losses (67 points). City have a game in hand. Goal difference is tight: Arsenal +37, City +36.

City opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Rayan Cherki. Arsenal responded just two minutes later when Kai Havertz capitalized on a poor touch from City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during a build-up. Havertz pressed, seized the chance and tucked the ball away to level the game.

City reclaimed the lead in the 20th minute of the second half. Nico O’Riley and Jeremy Doku worked the left flank; O’Riley’s pass deflected off Piero Incapie and fell to Erling Haaland. Haaland went down but still managed to get a shot away that beat the keeper.

With City leading 2-1 in the 37th minute, Haaland and Gabriel Magalhães clashed while contesting an aerial ball. The referee penalized Magalhães for the foul. Haaland shoved Magalhães in response, the two pressed foreheads together, and Magalhães then appeared to push his head forward. Players from both sides rushed in and pulled them apart.

VAR official John Brooks reviewed the incident, but the referee issued only a yellow card to Magalhães.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg argued Magalhães should have been sent off. Speaking to Football Insider, he called it fortunate that a red card wasn’t shown for what he described as an attempted headbutt toward Haaland. Clattenburg said he would have expected a yellow for each player when their foreheads met, but when Gabriel moved his head again—clear and deliberate—even without contact, that warranted a red card in his view.

Another former PL referee, Keith Hackett, shared that assessment. He said referee Anthony Taylor adopted a very lenient interpretation when Magalhães used his forehead against his opponent. While both players initially met forehead-to-forehead, Hackett believed Gabriel’s subsequent movement justified a sending-off.

By contrast, ex-referee Mark Halsey felt a red card would have been harsh. Speaking to The Sun, Halsey said two yellow cards were appropriate overall. He suggested Haaland actually helped de-escalate by staying on his feet, and that Taylor’s decision to book both players for their aggressive behavior was correct. Halsey said he agreed with not showing Magalhães a red card.

After the match, Haaland told Sky Sports he doesn’t go down unless he’s really fouled. \”If I had gone down, maybe that would have led to a red card. I’m not sure,\” he said. \”But it’s done. I won’t fall to the ground. I got a yellow and I don’t know why. He came at my face. The situation is over now.\”

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