Manchester City striker Erling Haaland finally sent back a reply to Ian Wright after calling him a “coward” Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes’ incident

Erling Haaland, the striker for Manchester City, has addressed the public for the first time in two weeks since the contentious incident against Arsenal.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright branded Manchester City striker Erling Haaland a “coward” and subjected him to condemnation during the tense 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. However, Haaland has now addressed the controversy surrounding his actions.

Haaland hurled the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes’ head after City equalized in injury time. This incident is the subject of the discussion. Arsenal had established a lead in the match with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, following Haaland’s early opener. Arsenal’s defensive performance was commendable, despite being reduced to ten men. However, their aspirations were dashed when John Stones scored with virtually the last kick of the game.

The actions of Haaland were captured on Sky Sports cameras; however, they did not garner significant attention until Ian Wright expressed his frustration on social media nearly 24 hours later. Wright criticized Haaland in a video that was widely shared, stating, “The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland’s cowardly move.” This morning, I observed it accurately. “Throwing the ball at Gabi’s head when he is not paying attention—a truly cowardly maneuver.”

Wright emphasized the importance of the antagonism between Gabriel and Haaland, describing the incident as disappointing and asserting that the striker should be above such behavior. “I believed you were more substantial than that, brother,” he continued.

Martin Keown, another Arsenal legend, also expressed his opinion, stating that Haaland had become Arsenal’s “personal enemy.” Meanwhile, Piers Morgan, a broadcaster, described him as a “nasty piece of work.”

Erling Haaland responded to the criticism in his first Instagram post in nearly a month after two weeks of seclusion. He composed, “Hello, gents. I would like to express my gratitude to the club, the supporters, and all others for their assistance over the past few weeks. Let us anticipate and concentrate on the forthcoming events.

After the encounter, Gabriel issued a warning to Manchester City, informing them that Arsenal would be “waiting” for their scheduled rematch in February. He reiterated, “We are anticipating their arrival at our facility.”

The contentious action of Haaland was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who ultimately determined that it did not merit a red card. Gabriel, who was evidently agitated during the incident, subsequently diminished the importance of such incidents in the sport of football.

He replied, “I cannot recall it.” Normal. However, the team deserves congratulations for their successful tie. Battle, war, and provocation are accepted aspects of football, as previously stated. It has concluded at this time. We are currently anticipating their arrival at our location.