Arsenal dominated Manchester City with a resounding 5-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
The Gunners took an early lead through captain Martin Ødegaard’s strike, sparking wild celebrations from Gabriel, who taunted Erling Haaland—reviving their heated rivalry from the 2-2 draw at the Etihad earlier this season.
Shortly after, Kai Havertz squandered a golden opportunity to double Arsenal’s lead, with commentator Gary Neville criticizing his finishing and suggesting he lacked confidence.
City responded after halftime, with Haaland powering in a header to level the score. However, their joy was short-lived as Thomas Partey’s deflected effort put Arsenal back in front.
Myles Lewis-Skelly then extended the lead with a curling finish, mimicking Haaland’s signature celebration in the process. Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri later added to the tally, sealing a crucial win for the Gunners as they continue their Premier League title race against Liverpool.
The ongoing rivalry between Haaland and Gabriel brought back memories of classic Barclays Premier League clashes. During the game, Haaland pointed to his gold Premier League badge, reminding Gabriel of his past success.
Earlier this season, tensions flared between the two when Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel after John Stones’ late equalizer and also clashed with Mikel Arteta, telling the Arsenal manager to “stay humble.”