- Erling Haaland told Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’ after a 2-2 draw in September
- Gabriel celebrated in Haaland’s face after Arsenal’s first goal in Sunday’s 5-1 win
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Ollie Watkins to Arsenal? It’s terrible planning from Arsenal… it’s all a bit late and panicked from the Gunners!
Arsenal defender Gabriel was spotted laughing in the face of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland after his side took an early lead in Sunday’s emphatic 5-1 win.
The Gunners went 1-0 up at the Emirates Stadium in only the second minute courtesy of Martin Odegaard’s third goal of the season.
After seeing the ball hit the back of City’s net, Gabriel gleefully ran up the pitch to celebrate with his team-mates, pausing along the way to mock Haaland.
Sunday’s game was the first meeting between City and Arsenal since their bad-tempered 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in September.
Gabriel and Haaland both scored in that game before clashing late on following a last-minute equaliser from John Stones. Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head shortly after Stones had rescued a point for City in matchweek five.
City’s Norwegian frontman then famously told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’ as both sets of players and staff angrily faced off after the final whistle.
Arsenal defender Gabriel laughed in the face of Man City striker Erling Haaland on Sunday
Gabriel and Haaland met each other on Sunday for the first time since clashing in September
They famously squared up to each other after City and Arsenal drew 2-2 earlier in the season
Gabriel seemingly had no desire to stay humble after Odegaard’s early goal on Sunday, instead relishing the opportunity to celebrate as close to Haaland as possible.
Haaland briefly had reason to celebrate later in the game after he headed City level in the 55th minute.
However, those celebrations were short-lived as Thomas Partey restored Arsenal’s lead just 105 seconds later.
Myles Lewis-Skelly then made it 3-1 to Arsenal when he scored his first ever goal for the club, before celebrating by imitating Haaland’s iconic meditation pose.
Kai Havertz added a fourth for the home side, before substitute Ethan Nwaneri completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Since Haaland told Arteta and his Arsenal team to stay humble, City’s form has dipped terribly.
City had won all of their opening four Premier League matches prior to that September stalemate with the Gunners.
Pep Guardiola’s men have since won just eight of their next 19 league games, losing seven.
