Arsenal wrapped up their season at the Emirates Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, securing second place in the Premier League and a spot in the 2025–26 Champions League. Midfielder Declan Rice scored the only goal, continuing his strong form.
During the Sunday broadcast, Sky Sports cameras caught sight of several former Arsenal players in the stands. Commentator Peter Drury gave a nod to Gilberto Silva, who was seated among the crowd. The 48-year-old Brazilian, who played 170 Premier League matches for Arsenal and scored the club’s second-ever league goal at the Emirates in 2006, was invited as a special guest for the final home game of the season.
However, the man seated beside him received no mention. Next to Gilberto, wearing a blue Arsenal scarf, a stylish hat, and sporting dreadlocks, was former Swiss defender Johan Djourou, now 38. His new look may have made him harder to recognize, leading to speculation that Drury simply didn’t realize it was him—despite Djourou’s face being unmistakably the same.
Born in Côte d’Ivoire, Djourou joined Arsenal as a teenager and built a respectable career. He made 86 league appearances for the Gunners and also played on loan for Birmingham City and Hannover before moving permanently to Hamburg. His career later took him to clubs in Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, and finally Denmark with Nordsjaelland. He also earned 86 caps for Switzerland.
Despite his achievements, Djourou seemingly didn’t command enough attention to warrant a mention from one of football’s most vocal commentators. Arsenal’s win ensures Newcastle can no longer catch them, with both teams having just one game remaining and a five-point gap between them.