Haaland hat-trick chaos as Man City stun Arsenal – Premier League live drama
02.02.2026 - 17:39:19 | ad-hoc-news.de
Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-02, the pitch is on fire... You wanted football results today, you got absolute chaos. The standout clash: Manchester City 3–2 Arsenal at the Etihad – a five-goal slugfest that flipped the Premier League live narrative on its head and threw gasoline on the title race.
Did you see that?? Erling Haaland went full machine mode with a brutal hat-trick, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli tried to drag Arsenal back from the dead. Add a huge late VAR shout in added time and you've got the game everyone will be replaying all night.
Arsenal actually drew first blood. On 18 minutes, a slick move down the right saw Martin Ødegaard slip a filthy reverse pass into the box. Bukayo Saka ghosted in behind City's back line and drilled a low right-foot finish past Ederson at the near post. 1–0 Arsenal, and the away end exploded.
City needed a response and, of course, it had to be Erling Haaland. On 32 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne – because who else – floated a trademark clipped ball over the top. Haaland bullied William Saliba, shrugged him off and smashed a left-foot volley high into the net. Goal scorers don't overthink it, they just end you. 1–1, game back on.
Right before half-time, Arsenal struck again. In the 43rd minute, Gabriel Martinelli cut in from the left, played a sharp one-two with Kai Havertz and bent a wicked right-foot curler into the far corner. Ederson got fingertips on it, but not enough. Martinelli the scorer, Ødegaard with another key involvement. Arsenal up 2–1 at the break and looking ruthless in transition.
On 57 minutes, it was 2–2. Phil Foden wriggled free on the right, cut the ball back across the box and there was Haaland, completely unmarked at the penalty spot. One touch to set, second touch a low rocket into the bottom corner. Erling Haaland again, clinical, ice-cold. You could almost feel the fear in Arsenal's back four every time he made a run.
Then the moment that might define City's season. In the 81st minute, De Bruyne whipped in a vicious in-swinging corner. Ruben Dias rose highest, nodding it down into the six-yard box where Haaland reacted fastest, stabbing home from close range to complete his hat-trick. Hat-trick hero: Erling Haaland. Assist contributors: De Bruyne's delivery, Dias causing chaos. The Etihad absolutely erupted.
Kevin De Bruyne didn't get on the scoresheet but was everywhere – two key passes leading directly to goals, plus that lethal corner for the third. He pulled Arsenal around like chess pieces. Phil Foden had a quieter night numbers-wise but his assist for Haaland's second came from pure invention.
For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka delivered with that sharp opener and kept driving at Joško Gvardiol. Gabriel Martinelli’s goal was world-class, pure winger’s finish. But when it mattered late on, neither could find that extra killer touch in the final third.
Ødegaard’s creativity stood out with his involvement in both Arsenal goals, but defensively the Gunners’ midfield faded. Declan Rice did tons of dirty work but was often left covering too much grass as Arsenal chased the game late on.
Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, but VAR stepped in. Long review, wild tension. Replays showed contact – Dias's knee brushing Havertz's calf – but the officials judged it "not clear and obvious" and stuck with the on-field decision. No penalty, final whistle seconds later, and Arsenal players surrounded the ref in disbelief.
On social media, that decision is already getting ripped apart – slow-motion clips of the challenge, still frames of Dias's leg, and split-screen comparisons with earlier penalties given this season. Expect that one to run for days.
City’s win tightens the pack at the top, puts pressure on the chasing sides, and suddenly that supposedly "comfortable" cushion for Arsenal looks extremely fragile. Every point from here is going to feel like a cup final.
Scroll those feeds and you'll see everything from Haaland GOAT takes, to Arsenal fans posting freeze-frames of the Dias-Havertz contact, to neutrals just enjoying an utterly wild Premier League live classic.
For Arsenal, it’s brutal because for long stretches they actually looked like the more controlled, composed side. Saka and Martinelli delivered, Ødegaard threaded the passes – but this is elite-level football: if you switch off even twice, Haaland will bury you. You can scream about refereeing all night, but the reality is Arsenal had the lead twice and couldn’t close it out.
If Mikel Arteta wants this squad to finally get over the line, these are the nights they simply can’t let slip. Game management late on, staying switched on at set pieces, making smarter subs earlier… all of that matters. Right now, City still look like the team built for the long run-in, even when they’re not at their absolute best.
Every match from here is loaded with pressure, every goal shifts the mood, and every VAR check feels like a mini-trial. If this is a preview of the run-in, clear your weekends – it's going to be wild.
Did you see that?? Erling Haaland went full machine mode with a brutal hat-trick, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli tried to drag Arsenal back from the dead. Add a huge late VAR shout in added time and you've got the game everyone will be replaying all night.
Man City 3–2 Arsenal – Haaland drags City back into the title fight
From the first whistle this felt like a season-defining match. Both sides came in knowing the margin for error at the top is microscopic, and you could feel that in every press, every tackle, every shot.Arsenal actually drew first blood. On 18 minutes, a slick move down the right saw Martin Ødegaard slip a filthy reverse pass into the box. Bukayo Saka ghosted in behind City's back line and drilled a low right-foot finish past Ederson at the near post. 1–0 Arsenal, and the away end exploded.
City needed a response and, of course, it had to be Erling Haaland. On 32 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne – because who else – floated a trademark clipped ball over the top. Haaland bullied William Saliba, shrugged him off and smashed a left-foot volley high into the net. Goal scorers don't overthink it, they just end you. 1–1, game back on.
Right before half-time, Arsenal struck again. In the 43rd minute, Gabriel Martinelli cut in from the left, played a sharp one-two with Kai Havertz and bent a wicked right-foot curler into the far corner. Ederson got fingertips on it, but not enough. Martinelli the scorer, Ødegaard with another key involvement. Arsenal up 2–1 at the break and looking ruthless in transition.
Second-half: Haaland turns into a wrecking ball
City came out after the break with that familiar siege mentality. Pep Guardiola pushed Bernardo Silva higher, De Bruyne drifted everywhere and Arsenal started to creak under the pressure.On 57 minutes, it was 2–2. Phil Foden wriggled free on the right, cut the ball back across the box and there was Haaland, completely unmarked at the penalty spot. One touch to set, second touch a low rocket into the bottom corner. Erling Haaland again, clinical, ice-cold. You could almost feel the fear in Arsenal's back four every time he made a run.
Then the moment that might define City's season. In the 81st minute, De Bruyne whipped in a vicious in-swinging corner. Ruben Dias rose highest, nodding it down into the six-yard box where Haaland reacted fastest, stabbing home from close range to complete his hat-trick. Hat-trick hero: Erling Haaland. Assist contributors: De Bruyne's delivery, Dias causing chaos. The Etihad absolutely erupted.
Big names: heroes, ghosts and nearly-men
Erling Haaland was the undisputed star. Three goals, constant movement, bullying centre-backs for 90 minutes. This was prime "you can't stop me" energy. In terms of football results today, nobody had a bigger say than him.Kevin De Bruyne didn't get on the scoresheet but was everywhere – two key passes leading directly to goals, plus that lethal corner for the third. He pulled Arsenal around like chess pieces. Phil Foden had a quieter night numbers-wise but his assist for Haaland's second came from pure invention.
For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka delivered with that sharp opener and kept driving at Joško Gvardiol. Gabriel Martinelli’s goal was world-class, pure winger’s finish. But when it mattered late on, neither could find that extra killer touch in the final third.
Ødegaard’s creativity stood out with his involvement in both Arsenal goals, but defensively the Gunners’ midfield faded. Declan Rice did tons of dirty work but was often left covering too much grass as Arsenal chased the game late on.
VAR drama: was Arsenal robbed at the death?
The hot topic tonight? That stoppage-time VAR check. Deep into added time, with City clinging to a 3–2 lead, Arsenal launched one last desperate attack. A looping cross from Ben White dropped inside the box, and it looked like Ruben Dias clipped Kai Havertz from behind as the German tried to bring the ball down.Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, but VAR stepped in. Long review, wild tension. Replays showed contact – Dias's knee brushing Havertz's calf – but the officials judged it "not clear and obvious" and stuck with the on-field decision. No penalty, final whistle seconds later, and Arsenal players surrounded the ref in disbelief.
On social media, that decision is already getting ripped apart – slow-motion clips of the challenge, still frames of Dias's leg, and split-screen comparisons with earlier penalties given this season. Expect that one to run for days.
What it means for the table
This result is massive. City close the gap on Arsenal at the top, swinging momentum back toward the reigning champions. Arsenal, who could’ve opened up crucial daylight, instead see their lead sliced and their confidence shaken.City’s win tightens the pack at the top, puts pressure on the chasing sides, and suddenly that supposedly "comfortable" cushion for Arsenal looks extremely fragile. Every point from here is going to feel like a cup final.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Social Media Spotlight – the game everyone is screaming about
Fans, pundits, ex-players – everybody's locked in on two things: Haaland’s ruthless finishing and that last-minute VAR non-call on Havertz. Clips of the hat-trick are everywhere, but the comments are a warzone over whether Arsenal were robbed of a late penalty.The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans furious over the stoppage-time VAR decision on Havertz
My take: title mentality vs. fine margins
In my opinion, this was a pure "champions find a way" performance from City. They weren’t perfect – far from it – but when the game turned chaotic, their big stars stepped up. Haaland was unplayable, De Bruyne ran the tempo, and even when the back line looked shaky, they found that extra gear.For Arsenal, it’s brutal because for long stretches they actually looked like the more controlled, composed side. Saka and Martinelli delivered, Ødegaard threaded the passes – but this is elite-level football: if you switch off even twice, Haaland will bury you. You can scream about refereeing all night, but the reality is Arsenal had the lead twice and couldn’t close it out.
If Mikel Arteta wants this squad to finally get over the line, these are the nights they simply can’t let slip. Game management late on, staying switched on at set pieces, making smarter subs earlier… all of that matters. Right now, City still look like the team built for the long run-in, even when they’re not at their absolute best.
Closing whistle: buckle up for a crazy run-in
So, if you were hunting football results today hoping for calm, sorry – this title race just went full drama series. A Haaland hat-trick, a late VAR storm, Arsenal hearts broken at the Etihad and the Premier League narrative twisted again.Every match from here is loaded with pressure, every goal shifts the mood, and every VAR check feels like a mini-trial. If this is a preview of the run-in, clear your weekends – it's going to be wild.
Check full stats & standings now
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