Ex-PGMOL chief flags issue with Man City goal vs Arsenal as new footage surfaces

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Manchester City ran out 2-1 winners over Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday but there has been plenty of debate about whether Erling Haaland's goal should have stood

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has claimed Manchester City's winner against Arsenal on Sunday should have been ruled out.

Pep Guardiola's side grabbed all three points when Erling Haaland struck in the second half following Kai Havertz's freak equaliser at the Etihad Stadium.

However, Hackett feels Haaland's goal should have been chalked off by VAR as the Norwegian was pulling Gabriel Magalhaes' shirt before driving the ball past David Raya.

Hackett posted on X after quote tweeting a different angle of the strike: "That’s a clear pull - goal should have been disallowed."

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Haaland and Gabriel were also involved in a separate tussle when Gabriel appeared to push his head into the City striker.

The powerhouse centre-forward made it clear after the game that he felt the incident should have resulted in a red card for the Brazilian.

He said: “I think that's a red card, most of you agree. If I go down, it’s a red card. I'd never do this. My father taught me, stay on your feet and don’t be a… it starts with P.

“That’s the reality. Maybe I should've gone down, maybe it'd be easier, but I didn’t and I got a yellow card for it."

Hackett was also in agreement, posting on X: "This should have resulted in a straight red."

Former Premier League referee Dermott Gallagher felt Gabriel, who was booked alongside Haaland, was lucky to avoid further punishment, telling Sky Sports' Ref Watch: “It was a very fair outcome, both of them were aggressive, throughout the whole game, it just epitomised what was at stake.

“Gabriel is very unwise what he does, it is not the cleverest thing to do and he runs a risk, but if you look, he actually goes does the front of him and not through him, he does not headbutt him.

“But he is very, very lucky that Haaland was very, very responsible because if he hits the deck, the whole landscape changes and the referee has a different situation to deal with.”

Arsenal remain top of the Premier League but City will now go level on points with the Gunners if they win against Burnley at Turf Moor in midweek.

Furthermore, they could also boast a superior goal difference and therefore leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the standings if they win by more than two goals.