Arsenal legend Ian Wright has branded Erling Haaland a coward after the Manchester City striker threw the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head near the end of Sunday's rollercoaster draw.
The Norwegian will escape any punishment after it was confirmed that VAR reviewed the incident and did not constitute violent conduct. Referee Michael Oliver also did not book Haaland and the Football Association has said it will not take retrospective action against anyone after a fractious encounter involving a series of flashpoints.
And while that will come as a huge sigh of relief for Pep Guardiola, who is facing a spell without vital midfield player Rodri after he injured a knee during the first half at the Etihad, it has not stopped Haaland from heavily being criticised.
With Arsenal supporters fuming on social media, Wright said in a video on his own Instagram account: "The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland's coward's move.
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"Throwing the ball at Gabi's head when he's not looking. When Gabi's back's turned to him. Real coward's move. Gabi would look him in the eye, you know. That's what bothered me more than anything else. I thought you [Haaland] were bigger than that."
Haaland scored the opener before Arsenal fought back and almost clung on to what would have been a statement win only to see John Stones level in the eighth minute of added time.
Haaland’s strike was his 100th goal for City in only his 105th appearances for the club - a record only matched by Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. And he also clashed with former Man City striker Gabriel Jesus before telling Mikel Arteta to "stay humble" at full-time.
He is not the only Premier League star to have been branded a coward for incidents during the weekend. Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock used the same term to describe Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez for his reckless challenge during the scoreless draw away to Crystal Palace.
But the Argentina international avoided punishment because he won the ball despite lunging with studs on both feet raised. No retrospective action will be taken against Martinez either and Warnock said: "It's a coward's tackle.
“That's all it is. It's a cowardly tackle to go in and try to protect yourself. I just think I don't like it. The intent is there. I don't understand why you would make that challenge. He's very, very lucky.”
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