Pep Guardiola is no stranger to dramatic touchline antics, but on Sunday at the Emirates, the Manchester City boss produced one of the strangest moments of the Premier League season.

With his team leading Arsenal 1-0 and just minutes from securing what would have been a vital away win, Guardiola was caught on camera grabbing fourth official Craig Pawson’s face and leaning in as though to kiss him on the cheek.

Craig Pawson curving a kiss from Pep Guardiola was not on our 2025 bingo card. 😂#MCFC #ARSMCI #PL #ManCitypic.twitter.com/0Y66iRYtff — The Manc (@TheMancUK) September 21, 2025

Pawson recoiled slightly, but the incident — broadcast live on television — quickly went viral on social media. Fans reacted with a mix of disbelief, amusement and confusion. Within minutes, clips of the moment were being shared across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.

For Guardiola, the timing could hardly have been worse. Just moments after the bizarre exchange, City conceded a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

Martinelli Strikes Late to Punish City

Manchester City had looked set for three points after Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the ninth minute. The Norwegian striker finished off a quick counter-attack, rolling the ball past David Raya to silence the home fans.

For long spells, City appeared in control. Guardiola’s men threatened repeatedly on the break, with Jeremy Doku stretching Arsenal’s defence and Haaland lurking for a second goal.

But Arsenal grew stronger as the match wore on. Mikel Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze at half-time, changes that shifted the tempo and gave the Gunners fresh attacking spark.

The breakthrough came in the 93rd minute. Eze threaded a clever pass into the path of Gabriel Martinelli, who showed composure beyond his years to lift the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Emirates erupted, and Arsenal secured a point that felt more like a victory.

The equaliser also extended Arteta’s unbeaten streak against his former mentor. The Spaniard has now avoided defeat in five consecutive matches against Guardiola in all competitions — an impressive record given Guardiola’s dominance over most of his managerial rivals.

Guardiola’s Gesture Sparks Debate

While Martinelli’s goal stole the headlines for footballing reasons, much of the post-match conversation focused on Guardiola’s interaction with Pawson.

Why did he do it? Was it an attempt at humour, a distraction tactic, or simply an impulsive act from one of the game’s most animated managers? Guardiola has long been known for his eccentric touchline behaviour — gesticulating wildly, shouting tactical instructions, even dropping to his knees in frustration. But rarely has he crossed into such personal territory with an official.

Social media reaction was swift and unforgiving. Some fans found it funny, others called it “inappropriate” or “unprofessional.” With referees already under intense scrutiny this season, the moment added an extra layer of controversy.

Implications for the Title Race

The 1-1 draw left both Arsenal and Manchester City frustrated. Liverpool’s win earlier in the weekend extended their lead at the top of the table to five points.

Liverpool: 12 points from their first five games

Arsenal: 10 points, sitting in second

Manchester City: 7 points, in ninth place

For Guardiola, the bigger concern will be his team’s inability to close out games. City dropped valuable points after switching to a back five late on, a decision that invited Arsenal pressure and eventually proved costly.

For Arteta, there are positives despite the team’s first-half struggles. The midfield trio of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino lacked creativity early on, but the energy and vision of Eze and Saka changed the contest. The late equaliser suggests Arsenal have resilience and depth to stay in the title conversation.

The focus will now shift to how Guardiola addresses both the late collapse and the unusual touchline incident. While it is unlikely to lead to formal disciplinary action, the image of one of the world’s most respected managers attempting to kiss a referee’s assistant is bound to linger.

For Arsenal, the result provides momentum heading into their next fixtures. Martinelli’s form — scoring from the bench in both the Champions League and Premier League in the same week — is a boost for Arteta, who is relying on squad depth to compete on multiple fronts.

Ultimately, this was a match that highlighted football’s unpredictability. City were minutes away from three points but ended up with just one. Arsenal were struggling but found salvation in stoppage time. And Guardiola, in typical fashion, ensured that even on a day when his team faltered, all eyes were still on him.