"I think there's a line of respect" - Mark Goldbridge lambasts Manchester City star Erling Haaland for 'disrespecting' Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
Mark Goldbridge feels Erling Haaland lacked respect towards Mikel Arteta after Manchester City's tense 2-2 draw against 10-man Arsenal on Sunday (September 22). The Cityzens forward got into a fiery bust-up with Gabriel Jesus after taunting the latter's manager.
Haaland told Arteta to 'Stay humble eh, stay humble eh' after the two title rivals settled on a pulsating draw at the Etihad. The Norweigan had already been on the wind-up, throwing the ball at Gabriel Magalhaes' head after John Stones' 90+8th minute equalizer.
Goldbridge reacted to both incidents by assessing the temper flaring between Manchester City and Arsenal. The YouTuber said (via his X account):
"Haaland's lucky I'm not Gabriel; he throws the ball at Gabriel's head like a coward, and then from the kick-off, he goes and barges Gabriel. Then he's telling Arteta to be humble? You don't speak to managers like that. I hate it when players have a pop at opposition managers because I think there's a line of respect. He's telling Arteta to be humble?"
Haaland gave City the lead in the 9th minute with an excellent finish to continue his red-hot form this season. Riccardo Calafiori hit back in the 22nd minute with a sensational goal to level the scores.
Gabriel gave his side the lead with a thumping header in the 45+1st minute before Leandro Trossard was sent off in the 45+8th minute for two bookable offenses.
The Gunners were resolute in defense to try to come away with all three points despite a one-man disadvantage. They kept City at bay until the 90+8th minute when Stones struck amid a controversial affair at the Etihad.
"We move on" - Arteta downplayed Haaland's taunting after Arsenal's draw against Manchester City
Arteta isn't dwelling on Haaland's actions post-match and has seemingly moved on from the incident. The Arsenal manager was asked about it a few days after, and he said it's part of the sport (via GOAL):
"It’s part of football, part of sport. After the game, all that goes away and we move on. That’s it."
Gunners forward Gabriel Jesus got into an exchange with Haaland on behalf of his manager shortly after the incident. The Brazilian told the Premier League top scorer not to touch him before the latter responded by calling him a clown and telling him to get away from him.
It was a feisty encounter that suggests the rivalry between Manchester City and Arsenal has become heated. The reverse fixture at the Emirates on February 1 could be fireworks.