'I don't like to see it': Freddie Ljungberg says one Arsenal player has done something 'disrespectful'
Today at 01:45 PM
Arsenal ran out 5-1 winners over Sporting CP in Tuesday’s Champions League encounter at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The Gunners went to the home of a team that hadn’t lost all season and hadn’t suffered a home defeat for over a year, and left with a comprehensive victory.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for Arsenal in the seventh minute before Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes put the game beyond Sporting’s reach by half-time.
Though Sporting pulled one back through Goncalo Inacio early in the second half, Bukayo Saka's penalty and Leandro Trossard's late goal wrapped up a statement win.
BBC Sport pundit Leon Osman said he believed Arsenal could win the Champions League with displays such as that against Sporting.
However, there was some minor controversy in the game involving an Arsenal player who did something “disrespectful”, according to Highbury cult hero Freddie Ljungberg.
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Freddie Ljungberg says Gabriel Magalhaes goal celebration in Arsenal win over Sporting was ‘disrespectful’
The moment in question involved Gabriel copying Viktor Gyokeres’ goal celebration after the Brazilian put Arsenal 3-0 up just before the break.
Gabriel headed home in first-half injury time and celebrated by interlocking his fingers before covering his eyes with his hands.
The gesture is similar to what Gyokeres does after scoring, though the Sweden international covers his mouth to make a mask.
After the game, Ljungberg told Viaplay that he felt Gabriel’s actions were “a bit disrespectful” and said he didn’t like seeing it.
“I'm not a fan of it,” Ljungberg said.
“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. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I don't think it's necessary. I think someone else has that target gesture, leave it alone. I don't like to see it.”
Gyokeres himself didn’t seem to mind, telling reporters: “He's welcome to steal it if he can't create his own celebration!
“I didn't know he did that, but it's fun he likes my celebration.”
The potential reason why Gabriel copied Gyokeres’ celebration
Gabriel’s actions may have been a way of getting back at Sporting after one of their players did something similar last time they met.
Arsenal and Sporting faced off in the last 16 of the Champions League in the 2022/23 campaign.
After both sides drew 2-2 in the first leg, Arsenal took the lead in the second leg through Granit Xhaka, but Pedro Goncalves equalised.
That forced extra time and then a penalty shootout, where Sporting reached the quarter-finals at the Gunners’ expense.
Goncalves appeared to mock Xhaka by mimicking his celebration where the Swiss midfielder touches his nose with his thumb and extends his hand out.
