Arsenal given Gabriel red card verdict as ex-Premier League ref admits he’s ‘very lucky’

Arsenal have received a fresh red card verdict after Gabriel was ‘very lucky’ not to have been sent off for aiming a headbutt at Erling Haaland.

The Gunners’ stranglehold at the top of the Premier League has collapsed in little over a week after defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday saw Pep Guardiola’s side move three points behind them with a game in hand against relegation-threatened Burnley on Wednesday.

Back-to-back defeats after a home loss against Bournemouth last Saturday means Arsenal are facing the real possibility of ending the season trophyless again despite talks of a Quadruple little over a month ago.

Sunday’s loss could have ended even worse for the Gunners if Gabriel had been sent off for aiming a headbutt at Haaland. The Brazilian lost his fierce battle against the City striker and in a moment of madness put his head towards Haaland when the two locked heads, but fortunately for Gabriel, he only glanced the head of Haaland who remained honest and didn’t throw himself to the ground.