Arsenal defender Gabriel rubbed salt into Sporting’s wounds by mocking superstar Viktor Gyokeres’ iconic celebration.
The Brazilian powered a header home from an inviting Declan Rice corner for Arsenal‘s third in their 5-1 thrashing over Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Gunners’ stunning haul marked the first time they had scored five goals away from home in the Champions League in 16 years.
Arsenal’s triumph also brought an end to Sporting’s 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions and marked the Portuguese club’s first defeat at home since March 2024.
It also cemented Arsenal’s status as Sporting’s unofficial bogey team, as the match marked the seventh time the pair have faced each other.
In that time, Sporting have never beaten Arsenal.
The end of some remarkable unbeaten streaks aside, it was Gabriel’s goal and subsequent celebration which added extra spice to the clash.
As the Brazilian centre-back wheeled away to celebrate with his teammates by the corner flag, he interlocked his fingers and covered his face with them.
It was a familiar celebration made famous by Sporting marksman Gyokeres, who has had plenty of opportunities to wheel it out this season given he’s scored 33 times in just 25 appearances for club and country this term.
Fans on social media couldn’t believe Gabriel had the chutzpah to openly copy Gyokeres’ iconic celebration in front of the Sporting faithful.
One fan said on X: “LOOOOL Gabriel said Gyokeres come get your celee back.”
Sports broadcaster Nubaid Haroon wrote: “Nah Gabriel is rude loool whys be beefing Gyokeres.”
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Another posted: “Gabriel pocketing Gyokeres for 45 minutes before notching a goal and doing Gyokeres’ celebration.”
This fan then stated: “Gabriel Magalhaes pulling out Gyokeres’ celebration right in his own backyard—this guy’s a certified menace.”
Gyokeres, linked with a reunion with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, looked a far cry from the goal machine he has been this term as Arsenal dominated the opening half of the Champions League tie.
The Gunners hit the lead in the seventh minute through Gabriel Martinelli as he tapped home Jurrien Timber’s low cross.
There was a brief VAR check to assess whether Timber had made his run too early, but the Dutchman timed it to perfection as the goal stood.
Arsenal then doubled their advantage 15 minutes later via Kai Havertz.
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Thomas Partey threaded a perfect pass between several Sporting defenders and into the path of Bukayo Saka on the right flank.
Sporting goalkeeper Franco Israel rushed out in an attempt to smother the ball, but Saka cheekily poked it through his legs and Havertz was on hand to tap home.
It was the German’s 100th goal in his club career.
Gabriel added the third on the stroke of half time, leaving Sporting with a serious mountain to climb going into the second half.
Sporting pulled one back two minutes into the second half via Goncalo Inacio to spark hopes of an unlikely comeback.
But Arsenal killed off any chance of that happening when Saka scored the visitors’ fourth.
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Saka coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after Martin Odegaard was bundled over in the box by Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande.
Leandro Trossard added the icing on the cake in the 82nd minute when he nodded home the rebound after Israel blocked a stinging drive from Mikel Merino just outside the box.
The win lifted Arsenal up to 7th in the Champions League table while Sporting dropped to eighth, although both teams sit on 10 points.
