Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was targeted by Arsenal players and fans during the Gunners’ stunning 5-1 win over the Premier League champions at the Emirates on Sunday
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has been branded ‘disrespectful’ by Gary Neville for celebrating in Erling Haaland’s face.
Gabriel, 27, ran up to Haaland and appeared to mock the despondent Manchester City striker after Martin Odegaard put Arsenal 1-0 up inside the opening two minutes. The Gunners went on to thrash the champions 5-1, all but ending Haaland and Co.’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
City’s talisman was public enemy number one at the Emirates on Sunday after telling Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’ in the aftermath of the sides’ raucous 2-2 draw in September. But Neville didn’t feel that Gabriel’s actions towards Haaland were appropriate.
“I don’t like it. I think it’s a bit disrespectful. I know Haaland is the pantomime villain here today but there was something about it I didn’t like,” the former Manchester United captain declared on his Sky Sports podcast.
“I was many things, and that [winding others up] was my game, but I never did that. I never went and screamed in a player’s face. It made me feel a little bit uneasy.”
Haaland got his own back on Gabriel, who chirpy towards the Norwegian all game, with a goal to equalise in the 55th minute, but City’s joy was short-lived. Thomas Partey restored Arsenal’s lead just 105 seconds later before Myles Lewis-Skelly made it 3-1 to Arsenal soon after.
The 18-year-old then celebrated by mimicking Haaland’s iconic meditation pose before Kai Havertz and substitute Ethan Nwaneri topped off the win, keeping Arsenal’s title hopes alive. The Gunners are still six points behind leaders Liverpool, who’ll play their game in hand away to Everton before the rest of the Premier League resumes in a fortnight.
After the game, Arsenal played rapper Kendrick Lamar’s song, ‘Humble’, over the stadium speakers. City manager Pep Guardiola was asked about Arsenal’s behaviour during his post-match press conference, particularly Lewis-Skelly’s celebration.
Was Gabriel Magalhaes being disrespectful? Have your say in the comments section.
“I didn’t see. They did that? That’s good,” Guardiola replied before pausing. “That’s good.” On the way out of his press conference, he turned to City’s press officer and asked: “Did you like my answer?”
Arteta, meanwhile, was asked if the team’s clash in September influenced Arsenal’s performance but the Gunners boss remained coy. “I don’t know, I haven’t seen that and it’s nothing that I want to discuss about that,” Arteta told reporters. “That’s down to the players but they know my view on it and we have to focus on us.”
Arsenal are back in action on Wednesday, facing Newcastle at St James’ Park in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. City don’t play until Saturday’s FA Cup clash with third-tier Leyton Orient.
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