Gabriel reignites rivalry with Haaland through provocative celebration as fans praise Premier League intensity

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes rekindled his feud with Erling Haaland by celebrating provocatively in the Manchester City striker’s face during their Premier League clash.

The incident occurred early in the match as Arsenal dominated Man City in a 5-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium. After Martin Odegaard opened the scoring for Arsenal within 3 minutes, Gabriel ran past Haaland while shouting and gesturing in his face as he celebrated with teammates.

This latest confrontation continues the ongoing rivalry between the two players, which previously saw Haaland throw the ball at Gabriel’s head during a heated match earlier in the season.

Fans on social media praised the intensity and emotion on display, with many commenting that this type of rivalry is “exactly what the Premier League needs.” One fan noted Gabriel’s “petty” behavior in deliberately taunting Haaland, while another called it an “amazing rivalry.”

Gabriel addressed the previous ball-throwing incident, saying: “It’s normal in the heat of the moment. It’s part of football to have provocative acts – it’s a battle, a war on the pitch. Now that’s over and we’re waiting for them at our ground.”

The Arsenal defender wasn’t the only one to antagonize Haaland during the emphatic win. Young Arsenal player Myles Lewis-Skelly mimicked Haaland’s meditation celebration after scoring, further stoking the rivalry between the two clubs.

This latest chapter in the Gabriel-Haaland feud exemplifies the passion and competitiveness that many fans enjoy seeing in Premier League matchups between top clubs.