Gary Neville Condemns Gabriel Magalhaes For Not Respecting Erling Haaland

JAKARTA - Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticized Gabriel Magalhaes for disrespecting Erling Haaland when Arsenal won 5-1 over Manchester City on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Gabriel reacted to Martin Odegaard's opener in the second minute shouting at Haaland's face before Myles Lewis-Skelly imitated the Norwegian striker's celebration, which seemed to be meditation after scoring his first goal at senior level.

When the two teams last met in September 2024, in the first league duel of the season, Haaland hit Gabriel in the back of the head with the ball and clashed with Arsenal squad members after the game ended.

Haaland also spoke unpleasantly by telling Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, to remain humble.

Neville said the incident made him feel uncomfortable and that it did not respect the Arsenal centre-back.

"I want to mention Gabriel and what he did to Haaland. It really happened to me in Highbury years ago."

"We really won 4-2 that day. A player shouted in front of my face. I actually didn't like it, I thought it was a bit disrespectful."

"I understand that Haaland is a villain playing here today, but there's something about it that I don't like."

"I never shouted in front of a player's face. I just didn't like it, it made me feel a little uncomfortable, it was a little disrespectful," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast on Monday, February 3, 2025.

Arteta has since seemed to warn his players of their striking celebration of Haaland.

"We have to focus on ourselves and let whatever happens there, just part of the games on the pitch and feelings, whatever happens there," Arteta said.

Arsenal are six points behind Premier League leader Liverpool, who has one game more.