Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to mock Viktor Gyokeres on Tuesday
The defender rose highest to head home Arsenal's third goal on the night
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By TUM BALOGUN
Published: 12:36 EST, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 12:36 EST, 27 November 2024
Former Arsenal forward Freddie Ljungberg has branded Gabriel's goal celebration against Sporting, in which he appeared to mock Viktor Gyokeres, as 'disrespectful'.
The centre-back rose highest to head home Arsenal's third goal in a resounding 5-1 victory over the Portuguese side in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The game was a rare occasion in which Gyokeres failed to find the net but viewers still got to see a variation of his trademark celebration when the Brazilian scored his third goal of the campaign.
Ljungberg, a compatriot of the Sporting striker, slammed Gabriel's gesture and labelled his actions as 'disrespectful'.
'I'm not a fan of it,' he told Viaplay. 'Of course, he must have had a lot of talk about playing against Gyokeres and whether he would be able to do it.
'Then his point in showing that he can handle it is quite simple. But I think it's a bit disrespectful.'
Freddie Ljungberg slammed Gabriel for mimicking the goal celebration of Viktor Gyokeres in Arsenal's 5-1 win over Sporting
The Brazilian scored the Gunners' third goal in an emphatic victory over the Portuguese champions
Viktor Gyokeres interlocks his hands before placing them over his mouth when he scores for club and country
After netting, Gabriel was quickly swarmed by his teammates but users on social media were quick to pick up on the gesture made by the central defender.
Earlier in the match, Gabriel came out on top against Swedish star Gyokeres in a number of duels and was even seen jeering the crowd after doing so.
Gyokeres, who has been linked with a host of top European clubs, including Arsenal, after his blistering form for the Portuguese champions, brushed off the incident after the match, saying: 'He’s welcome to steal it if he can’t create his own celebration!'
Arsenal took the lead through Gabriel Martinelli after a neat ball across the box by Jurrien Timber before Kai Havertz doubled their lead shortly after.
Gabriel then got their third after rising highest from a corner and powering his header into the back of the net defiantly.
After the half-time break, Sporting got back into the match through a Goncalo Inacio header before the Gunners hit back through Bukayo Saka from the penalty spot.
Leandro Trossard rounded out the emphatic win that took the Gunners up into the top eight of the Champions League table.
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