Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports/ Getty
Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, Gabriel Magalhaes, Granit Xhaka, Ruben Amorim, Football, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting CP
Ben McCrum
Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, Gabriel Magalhaes, Granit Xhaka, Ruben Amorim, Football, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting CP
Arsenal fans have figured out exactly why defender Gabriel copied the iconic celebration of Sporting striker
On Tuesday night, several of the top teams in Europe clashed as the fifth match day of the Champions League got underway.
Arsenal travelled to Lisbon to face Sporting, the former club of new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, at the Jose Alvalade Stadium
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After centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes put the Gunners 3-0 ahead shortly before the half-time, fans noticed him copying the celebration of Sporting striker Gyokeres, and now they know why.
Fans on social media platform X noticed that the Arsenal defender copied the Sporting star's celebration to get revenge for the Portuguese club copying former teammate Granit Xhaka's goal celebration in March 2023.
As the two clubs met in the Europa League, Xhaka scored the opening goal of the fixture before Sporting star Pedro Goncalves equalised the second leg leading to a final score 1-1.
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A draw in London took the tie to a penalty shootout after the first leg in Lisbon also finished as a draw, which Arsenal lost after Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan saved an effort from Gabriel Martinelli.
And with his side safely through to the quarter-finals and Arsenal therefore eliminated, Goncalves ran to celebrate with the away fans while mimicking Xhaka’s earlier goal celebration.
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Sporting were then knocked out in the next round of the competition, losing 2-1 across two legs to Juventus.
And on Tuesday night, Arsenal got their revenge over Sporting after comfortably beating them 5-1 in Lisbon, putting the London club back into the top eight clubs in the Champions League table.
Martinelli avenged his missed penalty in 2018 by opening the scoring before teammates Kai Havertz and Gabriel put the visitors 3-0 ahead at half-time.
Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio scored first in the second half, but it proved to be only a consolation goal as Bukayo Saka scored a penalty just 20 minutes late and Leandro Trossard netted Arsenal's fifth of the night shortly before full-time.
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Next in the Champions League, the Gunners welcome Ligue 1 side Monaco to the Emirates on December 11.