Sporting Club forward Viktor Gyƶkeres has finally reacted to Arsenal defender Gabriel āstealingā his celebration.
Gyƶkeres, 26, has been one of Europeās standout players this season, scoring 24 goals in 20 games. However, the Swedish forward was unable to find the net on Tuesday as Arsenal secured a dominant 5-1 victory in Lisbon.
Gabriel scored Arsenalās third goal in first-half stoppage time, meeting Declan Riceās corner with a perfectly timed run. The Brazilian then mimicked Gyƶkeresā signature celebration, interlocking his hands in front of his face, a gesture the Sporting striker later commented on with humor, saying Gabriel was welcome to āsteal itā if he couldnāt create his own.
The celebration was reportedly a response to Pedro Goncalves imitating Granit Xhakaās celebration during Sportingās Europa League triumph over Arsenal in March 2023.
Despite the loss, Gyƶkeres remains a player in high demand, with top clubs like Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona reportedly scouting him during the match.
Arsenalās win moved them to seventh place in the Champions League group stage standings. However, concerns were raised about Gabrielās fitness, with Mikel Arteta revealing post-match that the defender experienced discomfort, though the exact nature of the issue remains unclear. Arteta also praised his teamās performance, highlighting their efficiency and growth on the European stage.