Erling Haaland and Gabriel to renew rivalry as Norway and Brazil meet in World Cup last 16

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Haaland[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gabriel/tEcnVXMS/"]Gabriel[/a] have been involved in several high-profile spats over the past two years as their club sides, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a], have battled to be crowned Premier League champions.[/p][p]In April, the Norweigan said the Arsenal defender should have been sent off after the two squared up following Man City's 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium, but both players were booked by referee Anthony Taylor.[/p][embed guid="c71008f2-c0d4-4475-838e-fde11bbf9f05" url="https://x.com/SkySportsPL/status/2045913944959648231" social-type="twitter" /][p]Their bitter rivalry began in 2024 when the Arsenal defender tightly marked the City number nine during a tense 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.[/p][p]Emotions spilled over as City scored a dramatic late equaliser to dent Arsenal’s title hopes, with the striker pointedly throwing the ball on the back of Gabriel's head amid the celebrations.[/p][p]Haaland then told Mikel Arteta to "stay humble" before clashing with several Arsenal players before leaving the pitch.[/p][p][b]"I’m surprised how he controls his emotions," [/b]Man City manager Pep Guardiola told reporters at the time, adding that Haaland [b]"behaves incredibly well."[/b][/p][embed guid="080c7503-615a-477c-bad3-bbc877592b43" url="https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1837914027512541568?lang=en" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It was not easy when you’re (playing) 90 minutes then Gabriel, the central defender, pushes him, hugs him and hacks him and hugs him and kisses him and these things. At the end, he’s a human being, he has to react."[/b][/p][p]Last season the Gunners opened the scoring against Man City at the Emirates Stadium through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/odegaard-martin/ID32TGhp/"]Martin Odegaard[/a] - Haaland’s captain at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a] - and Gabriel was seen shouting in Haaland's face as he went to celebrate with his teammates in the corner.[/p][p]The Norwegian pointedly did not celebrate when he levelled the match at 1-1, before Arsenal ran away with the game.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewis-skelly-myles/bDeyKrHT/"]Miles Lewis-Skelly[/a] scored a third goal for the Gunners after half-time and the 18-year-old appeared to mock Haaland by copying his traditional celebration by sitting down on the pitch.[/p][embed guid="2a5ef03c-151a-4655-96dd-c6e8f9041cb9" url="https://x.com/ESPNUK/status/1886121601080443064?lang=en" social-type="twitter" /][p]Arsenal scored a fourth and fifth, with Gabriel seen clapping towards the Man City star after each goal.[/p][p]There was a further flashpoint when the Brazil defender later refused Haaland's hand when the striker tried to help him get back on his feet. He then tugged at the 24-year-old's shorts while on the ground.[/p][p]In reply, Haaland pointed at his golden Premier League champions logo on his sleeve, telling the defender he had already won the trophy as Arsenal’s wait for the title continued.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/norway-8rP6JO0H/?mid=tpOhKWcC"]Norway take on Brazil[/a] this Friday with the winner set to face England or Mexico in the World Cup quarter-final on 11th July in Miami.[/p][p]Arsenal and Man City will renew their rivalries at the start of the season with the traditional Community Shield curtain-raiser on 16th August in Cardiff.[/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /][infobox id="90b25495-5913-4d80-9e16-b0c4285fb3dd" /]