Gary Neville calls Gabriel’s behaviour against Liverpool ‘embarrassing’
Gary Neville criticised Arsenal defender Gabriel after his clash with Alexander Isak in the opening minutes of their match against Liverpool at Anfield. Gabriel went down holding his face in the third minute, but replays showed the contact was to his chest. Neville felt the defender had overreacted, saying he appreciated his passion and toughness,
Gary Neville criticised Arsenal defender Gabriel after his clash with Alexander Isak in the opening minutes of their match against Liverpool at Anfield. Gabriel went down holding his face in the third minute, but replays showed the contact was to his chest. Neville felt the defender had overreacted, saying he appreciated his passion and toughness but that he sometimes let himself down with this behaviour.
Gabriel returned to Arsenal’s starting lineup after the team rested him for their midweek defeat to Fleetwood Town in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and he was tasked with marking Isak. The source noted that Gabriel had never won with Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield, where the team’s most recent victory dated back to 2012.
Before the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his team saw the fixture as an opportunity to win and went into it with complete belief after coming close to victory in recent years. He added that the team had discussed what it was missing and that he wanted them to play with a clear purpose and return with all three points.