Haaland hat-trick chaos as Man City edge Arsenal in Premier League live thriller
06.02.2026 - 15:42:30
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-06, the pitch is on fire... You wanted football results today, and the Premier League just dropped a full-on blockbuster at the Etihad. Manchester City 3-2 Arsenal, a live title-race punch-up where Erling Haaland went full cheat code, Bukayo Saka refused to disappear, and VAR walked straight into the main character role again.
This was the kind of night where you’re checking football results today every five minutes because everything at the top feels like it could flip with a single kick. Goals, chaos, controversy – we had the full package.
Goal 1 – Man City 1-0 Arsenal (Haaland)
City struck first. Kevin De Bruyne dropped into that half-space he owns like a timeshare, slid a filthy through ball between Gabriel and Saliba, and Erling Haaland did the rest. One touch to steady, second touch slammed low past David Raya. Erling Haaland opens the scoring – no surprise, but the ruthlessness was scary.
Goal 2 – Man City 2-0 Arsenal (Haaland again)
Arsenal looked rattled. Ten minutes later, a short-corner routine saw Bernardo Silva whip in a teasing cross. Haaland peeled off his marker at the back post and powered a header into the far corner. Two shots, two goals. At this point, Haaland looked like he’d decided the Golden Boot race in one night.
Goal 3 – Man City 2-1 Arsenal (Saka)
But Arsenal aren’t that soft anymore. Just before half-time, Bukayo Saka sparked them back to life. Martin Ødegaard slipped him into space on the right, Saka cut inside Nathan Aké and curled one left-footed into the far corner. Classic Saka finish. Ederson got a glove on it, but the strike had too much shape and venom. Game back on, Arsenal fans roaring again.
Goal 4 – Man City 3-1 Arsenal (Haaland hat-trick, VAR drama)
Then came the moment everyone is screaming about online. Haaland spun in behind on a ball over the top from Rodri, nudged it past Raya and went down under contact. The ref pointed to the spot instantly. VAR drew lines for what felt like an eternity, checking a razor-thin offside and the contact. In the end, the penalty stood. Up stepped Haaland, short run-up, smashed low into the bottom-right corner for his hat-trick. Raya guessed right but couldn’t keep it out.
Arsenal players surrounded the referee, Arteta was losing his mind on the touchline, and X (Twitter) basically melted. That penalty decision is the hot topic everywhere right now – was Haaland just too strong, or did he buy it cleverly? Depends on your shirt colour tonight.
Goal 5 – Man City 3-2 Arsenal (Trossard)
Arsenal didn’t die quietly. Substitutes made the difference: Gabriel Jesus dragged defenders wide, Ødegaard found a pocket, and slipped in Leandro Trossard on the left. One touch, low drive across goal, in off the far post. 3-2, and suddenly we had a full-on siege in the final ten minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): The assist for the opener was pure KDB – weight, vision, timing. He faded a bit late on as the game turned helter-skelter, but for 60 minutes he ran the tempo like a maestro. When he’s fit, City look like a different animal.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): Refused to shrink even at 2-0 down. His goal was ice-cold, and he was the one repeatedly driving at City’s back line, winning free-kicks and dragging Arsenal up the pitch. He looked like the one player truly unfazed by the Etihad noise.
Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal): Quiet early, then switched on. The assist for Saka, the pre-assist for Trossard – his fingerprints were on almost every good Arsenal move after the 30-minute mark. But he’ll be haunted by one big miss: a dragged shot wide from 15 yards at 3-2 that could’ve stolen a point.
Phil Foden (Man City): Flashes but not full dominance. A few gorgeous touches and one shot bent just over the bar, but compared to Haaland and De Bruyne, he was more of a support act tonight.
City’s win keeps them right in the hunt for the league crown, and Haaland’s hat-trick launches him back toward the top scorers list for today and the season overall. Arsenal, meanwhile, now have to look over their shoulder with the chasing pack smelling blood.
To plug you straight into the noise:
Arsenal, though, walked away with that familiar feeling of "nearly". They showed heart, they showed quality, and Saka plus Trossard gave them genuine belief. But you can’t spot City a 2-0 lead at the Etihad and expect it not to burn you. If you want to rip the crown away, you have to be cold from minute one, not minute thirty.
In my opinion, this result says more about mentality than tactics. City smelled blood and finished. Arsenal reacted well, but they reacted late. If Arteta wants to actually lift the Premier League trophy, nights like this can’t keep ending with "good performance, bad result". The best sides don’t care about compliments – they count points.
If you’re trying to make sense of where everyone stands after tonight’s madness, you need to zoom out from the drama and look at the full picture.
This was the kind of night where you’re checking football results today every five minutes because everything at the top feels like it could flip with a single kick. Goals, chaos, controversy – we had the full package.
Man City 3-2 Arsenal – Haaland vs Saka, pure drama
From the first whistle, you could feel it: both teams knew this wasn’t just three points, this was a statement in neon lights.Goal 1 – Man City 1-0 Arsenal (Haaland)
City struck first. Kevin De Bruyne dropped into that half-space he owns like a timeshare, slid a filthy through ball between Gabriel and Saliba, and Erling Haaland did the rest. One touch to steady, second touch slammed low past David Raya. Erling Haaland opens the scoring – no surprise, but the ruthlessness was scary.
Goal 2 – Man City 2-0 Arsenal (Haaland again)
Arsenal looked rattled. Ten minutes later, a short-corner routine saw Bernardo Silva whip in a teasing cross. Haaland peeled off his marker at the back post and powered a header into the far corner. Two shots, two goals. At this point, Haaland looked like he’d decided the Golden Boot race in one night.
Goal 3 – Man City 2-1 Arsenal (Saka)
But Arsenal aren’t that soft anymore. Just before half-time, Bukayo Saka sparked them back to life. Martin Ødegaard slipped him into space on the right, Saka cut inside Nathan Aké and curled one left-footed into the far corner. Classic Saka finish. Ederson got a glove on it, but the strike had too much shape and venom. Game back on, Arsenal fans roaring again.
Second half – VAR, nerves, and a hat-trick
The restart felt cagey, like everyone in the stadium knew the next goal could tilt the whole league table.Goal 4 – Man City 3-1 Arsenal (Haaland hat-trick, VAR drama)
Then came the moment everyone is screaming about online. Haaland spun in behind on a ball over the top from Rodri, nudged it past Raya and went down under contact. The ref pointed to the spot instantly. VAR drew lines for what felt like an eternity, checking a razor-thin offside and the contact. In the end, the penalty stood. Up stepped Haaland, short run-up, smashed low into the bottom-right corner for his hat-trick. Raya guessed right but couldn’t keep it out.
Arsenal players surrounded the referee, Arteta was losing his mind on the touchline, and X (Twitter) basically melted. That penalty decision is the hot topic everywhere right now – was Haaland just too strong, or did he buy it cleverly? Depends on your shirt colour tonight.
Goal 5 – Man City 3-2 Arsenal (Trossard)
Arsenal didn’t die quietly. Substitutes made the difference: Gabriel Jesus dragged defenders wide, Ødegaard found a pocket, and slipped in Leandro Trossard on the left. One touch, low drive across goal, in off the far post. 3-2, and suddenly we had a full-on siege in the final ten minutes.
Stars of the show – who delivered, who disappeared?
Erling Haaland (Man City): Stone-cold killer. Three goals – right foot, header, penalty – the full striker’s tool kit. His movement bullied Arsenal’s centre-backs all night, and every time City needed a moment, he stepped up. Absolute hero performance.Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): The assist for the opener was pure KDB – weight, vision, timing. He faded a bit late on as the game turned helter-skelter, but for 60 minutes he ran the tempo like a maestro. When he’s fit, City look like a different animal.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): Refused to shrink even at 2-0 down. His goal was ice-cold, and he was the one repeatedly driving at City’s back line, winning free-kicks and dragging Arsenal up the pitch. He looked like the one player truly unfazed by the Etihad noise.
Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal): Quiet early, then switched on. The assist for Saka, the pre-assist for Trossard – his fingerprints were on almost every good Arsenal move after the 30-minute mark. But he’ll be haunted by one big miss: a dragged shot wide from 15 yards at 3-2 that could’ve stolen a point.
Phil Foden (Man City): Flashes but not full dominance. A few gorgeous touches and one shot bent just over the bar, but compared to Haaland and De Bruyne, he was more of a support act tonight.
What this does to the Premier League table
With this win, City crank the pressure right back on the rest of the league. The gap at the top tightens, Arsenal lose ground, and suddenly every point over the next few weeks feels like a final. The race isn’t over, but dropping points in a direct head-to-head like this hurts badly for Arsenal’s title dream.City’s win keeps them right in the hunt for the league crown, and Haaland’s hat-trick launches him back toward the top scorers list for today and the season overall. Arsenal, meanwhile, now have to look over their shoulder with the chasing pack smelling blood.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight – the web is losing it
Everyone’s timelines are basically just one big argument about that Haaland penalty and VAR. City fans calling it "stonewall", Arsenal fans calling it "robbery" – classic Premier League chaos. The official match hashtag #MCIAFC is flooded with freeze-frames of the contact, slow-motion clips, and pure rage/flexing depending on the side.To plug you straight into the noise:
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over that Haaland VAR penalty decision
My take – title contenders or nearly men?
Honestly, from a young reporter’s seat, this felt like a defining night. City looked like seasoned champions: ruthless early, clinical when chances fell, and absolutely unapologetic with game management once they went 3-1 up. You can say what you want about the penalty, but top sides consistently force those high-stakes moments in the box.Arsenal, though, walked away with that familiar feeling of "nearly". They showed heart, they showed quality, and Saka plus Trossard gave them genuine belief. But you can’t spot City a 2-0 lead at the Etihad and expect it not to burn you. If you want to rip the crown away, you have to be cold from minute one, not minute thirty.
In my opinion, this result says more about mentality than tactics. City smelled blood and finished. Arsenal reacted well, but they reacted late. If Arteta wants to actually lift the Premier League trophy, nights like this can’t keep ending with "good performance, bad result". The best sides don’t care about compliments – they count points.
Closing whistle – the race is wide open
The football results today just blew the top off the title race. Haaland’s hat-trick throws him right back into the top scorers conversation, City shove themselves firmly into pole position vibes, and Arsenal are left having to respond fast in their next fixture. And that’s before we even get into how this form rolls into upcoming Champions League nights.If you’re trying to make sense of where everyone stands after tonight’s madness, you need to zoom out from the drama and look at the full picture.
Check full stats & standings now
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