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Mikel Arteta was told by Erling Haaland to stay humble after a 2-2 draw in September. Gabriel celebrated in Haaland’s face after Arsenal’s first goal in Sunday’s 5-1 win.
Former Manchester United defender and football pundit Gary Neville has criticized Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes for his “disrespectful” behavior toward City’s star striker Erling Haaland following Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Manchester City. The incident occurred early in the match when Gabriel celebrated Martin Odegaard’s opening goal by laughing in Haaland’s face, reigniting their ongoing rivalry.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed his disapproval of Gabriel’s actions, stating that such behavior is unprofessional and unsportsmanlike. “It’s disrespectful,” Neville said. “Celebrating in an opponent’s face like that is not something we want to see on the pitch. It made me feel uneasy.”
The tension between Gabriel and Haaland has been building since their previous encounter in September, where Haaland told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” and questioned Gabriel’s teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly, asking, “Who are you?” Gabriel’s celebration was seen as a direct response to those comments, adding fuel to the fiery rivalry.
Despite Haaland’s goal later in the game, which briefly leveled the score at 1-1, Arsenal’s resilience and determination saw them secure a 5-1 victory. The result moves Arsenal within six points of league leaders Liverpool, keeping their title hopes alive.
Neville’s criticism highlights the importance of maintaining professionalism and respect on the pitch, even in the heat of competition. While rivalries and emotions run high in football, actions like Gabriel’s can cross the line and detract from the spirit of the game.
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