Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal was a game that polarised opinion for several number of reasons.
Leandro Trossard’s red card against City, for instance, has split opinion; with one school of thought being that the Belgian should have been more sensible given Declan Rice’s recent sending off for delaying the restart against Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, others feel it was harsh for referee Michael Oliver to penalise the Arsenal forward in such a high-stakes affair.
Similarly, how Pep Guardiola’s men approached the second half would split opinion.
Some would feel that Guardiola’s side very up against it to create chances against arguably the best defence in the world putting all their players behind the ball.
Roy Keane criticised City’s approach against Arsenal for their lack of movement and imagination in attack.
Carragher says Man City star did something hilarious against Arsenal
Similarly, Erling Haaland’s decision to throw the ball at Gabriel Magalhaes’ head after John Stones’ equaliser would also garner varying different reactions from pundits.
Gabriel responded to Haaland’s antics by playing down the situation.
Ian Wright slated Haaland for doing so as the Brazilian had his back turned to him.
Nedum Onuoha felt Haaland’s antics were funny.
Jamie Carragher sits in the same camp as the former Manchester City defender about the £51 million man’s antics.
Carragher said on The Overlap’s Stick To Football show: “The reason why I thought it was funny was because, you could see [Erling] Haaland, he’s just a bit mad, isn’t he?”
“He’s just picked up the ball and someone’s got their shirt over their head and he’s just gone bang! I don’t even think he knows who it is! I think he’s just gone boom!”
It is important to see the funny side of what Erling Haaland did
Haaland would perhaps not wish to engage in such antics in other big games.
But it is important to see the funny side of what the Norwegian did.
It is refreshing to see a footballing superstar embrace a rivalry to such an extent and be willing to lock horns with Arsenal’s players.
Haaland is one of the few characters left in the game.
The 24-year-old has a rivalry with Gabriel nowadays that cannot be rivalled with any other in world football currently; something that used to be commonplace back when Jamie Carragher was a player.
