Tensions erupted following the final whistle between Manchester City and Arsenal, with Erling Haaland and Ben White spotted trading words as well as blows. Manchester City defeated Premier League leaders Arsenal 4-1 in a commanding victory that featured multiple flash points at the Etihad as the title race appeared to veer strongly in the hosts’ favour.
Kevin de Bruyne scored twice each side of halftime for the Citizens, while John Stones extended the lead in the first half and Erling Haaland added a fourth late in the injury time after a Rob Holding consolation. While the game’s competitiveness fell short of expectations, it remained a tense battle throughout.
Erling Haaland, Ben White involved in heated clash
The game was not without controversy, with Ruben Dias kicking out at White only to receive a yellow card, and major brawls between Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka and Jack Grealish emphasising the night’s tension. However, both teams were spotted squabbling after the final whistle, with Erling Haaland storming towards the Arsenal defender before the issue was resolved by referee Michael Oliver.
Following the conclusion of the action, Erling Haaland marched over to White, with the two apparently poised to lock horns. White had approached Phil Foden, and the two had momentarily squared off until Bernardo Silva interfered, however Haaland then arrived on the scene.
A large number of teammates from both sides were spotted separating the two and keeping things civil. Oliver then attempted to cool the heated exchanges before both sets of players gradually disentangled and made their way to their own dressing rooms on an eventful night.
While the game fell short of the fierce intensity that fans had hoped for – with Arsenal trailing – there was still plenty of tension between the two title rivals. Midfielders Jack Grealish and Thomas Partey were regularly at odds, with the Ghanaian reacting negatively to being nudged over by the ex-Aston Villa captain.
Both players were booked after a confrontation that ended in a fight in which they grabbed each other’s shirts in rage. Grealish was also involved in a disagreement with Xhaka, who was holding onto City’s No. 10 as he went out from the penalty area with the game delayed for a free-kick after an infringement on Ederson.
The England star was seen attempting to extricate himself from Xhaka’s clutch around his shoulder, prompting Oliver to return to the situation to help both players calm down. Soon after, Xhaka was replaced by Jorginho, who had failed to inspire Arsenal to a performance worthy of challenging the reigning champions.
The Gunners’ fans were also displeased with VAR rulings in the game, believing Dias should have been sent off at the conclusion of the first half for kicking out at White, who was at the centre of many of the evening’s events. City finished the night just two points behind the leaders, with two games in hand, and look set to win their third title in a row.
Despite making good improvement under Arteta, Arsenal continues to struggle versus City, having lost their previous 12 Premier League meetings against them. It is Arsenal’s greatest losing streak against a single opponent, and they have lost all seven visits to the Etihad Stadium while Guardiola has been in charge. The aggregate score has been 20-3 in that period, with Arsenal failing to score in eight of their last twelve games.