November 26th 2024.
In a thrilling Champions League match on Tuesday night, Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal pulled off a unique celebration after scoring the team's third goal against Sporting CP. He mimicked Viktor Gyokeres' signature move, locking his fingers and placing his hands in front of his eyes. This left many fans puzzled, but it seems that Gabriel was seeking revenge after Sporting's victory over Arsenal last year.
The game started off strong for Arsenal, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring an early goal in the seventh minute, followed by Kai Havertz doubling the lead in the 22nd minute. By half time, Arsenal were up 3-0, thanks to an unmarked header from Gabriel off of Declan Rice's impressive corner. His celebration seemed to be a clear nod to Gyokeres, who uses the same gesture when he scores for Sporting.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Arsenal against Sporting. In a Europa League match last year, Granit Xhaka had put Arsenal ahead in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie, only for Pedro Goncalves to equalize and send the game into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout. Sporting emerged victorious, knocking Arsenal out of the tournament and securing their spot in the quarter final.
During their celebrations, Pedro Goncalves was seen copying Xhaka's celebration in front of the Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium. However, it was Arsenal who had the last laugh on Tuesday night, as they continued their dominant performance after Gabriel's goal just before half time.
Sporting did manage to pull one back early in the second half, with Gonçalo Inacio scoring for the home team. But Arsenal's quality shone through, with Bukayo Saka scoring from the penalty spot and Leandro Trossard sealing the 5-1 victory with a close-range goal in the final minutes.
This win lifted Arsenal into seventh place in the Champions League table, securing them an automatic spot in the knockout phase. It was a well-deserved victory for Mikel Arteta's side, who showed their strength and determination on the field. And for Gabriel, his celebration will surely be remembered as a cheeky response to Sporting's triumph over Arsenal last year.
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