Arsenal delivered a commanding performance on vs Aston Villa with a 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium to extend their Premier League lead. Returning from injury, Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring early in the second half from a set-piece, bundling the ball home amid controversy over contact with Emiliano Martinez. Martin Zubimendi quickly doubled the lead, followed by strikes from Leandro Trossard and substitute Gabriel Jesus. Ollie Watkins grabbed a late consolation for Villa, ending their 11-match winning streak.
The Viral Tunnel Moment
The footage captured in the tunnel by Gunners media team went viral post Arsenal vs Aston Villa match. It showed Gabriel mimicking Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana’s signature celebration. Onana had repeatedly performed a gesture of putting “three points in his pocket” during Villa’s winning run, including after their recent victory over Arsenal. Gabriel Magalhaes copied it precisely—placing his hand in his coat pocket and zipping it up—directly taunting his opponents in front of the cameras.
❤️🤍 Gabriel Magalhães: “First, I want to say thanks God. It was difficult for me, I always want to help the team, but now I’m so happy to be back”.
“I think today was a brilliant day for everyone, how we worked together. We need to keep going”. pic.twitter.com/BJ9HiMGgxs
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2025
Gabriel’s Cheeky Explanation
Speaking after the game, the Brazilian defender downplayed the mockery as light-hearted banter. “Those sort of things spur you on. It’s good fun. It’s fun for them, it’s fun for us as well,” Gabriel said, adding, “Like I told you, we’ll get the three points.” His actions were seen as sweet revenge, especially after Villa’s celebrations had motivated Arsenal ahead of this fixture.
7. A happy Gabriel Magalhaes arrives at the team hotel in Spain, great to capture the personality of the players.
8. Great to be able to capture images like these, always amazes me how detailed player medicals are. pic.twitter.com/XHoEW370PT
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 31, 2025
The clip spread rapidly across social media, amassing millions of views. Arsenal fans hailed Gabriel’s wind-up as iconic, while some Villa supporters called it unsportsmanlike. Neutral observers praised the passion it added to the rivalry. Featured on Arsenal’s channels and shared widely, it encapsulated the Gunners’ triumphant mood.
Title Race Implications
The win sent Arsenal five points clear at the top entering 2026, with Manchester City having a game in hand. For Villa, the heavy defeat raised questions about their title credentials under Unai Emery. Gabriel’s on-pitch heroics and off-pitch antics underlined Arsenal’s growing confidence in the race.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
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