Arsenal: New theory behind Gabriel goal celebration emerges after Viktor Gyokeres revenge claims | OneFootball

Gunners defender used the same gesture as in the win over Sporting CP as he scored once more against West Ham

Having been passed fit to start for the Gunners against West Ham on Saturday evening in the aftermath of a knock sustained after he netted their third in a 5-1 midweek Champions League thrashing of Sporting CP in Lisbon, the Brazilian centre-back was at it again at the London Stadium.

Gabriel - having held court with his Arsenal team-mates before the ball was delivered - steered home another expert header from a Bukayo Saka corner at the front post in the 10th minute to kick off the scoring in an incredible first half against West Ham that saw Arsenal lead 5-2 at the interval.

All seven goals in Saturday’s match were notched in the first period, the first time since December 2012 and only the fourth time ever that has happened in the history of the Premier League.

Leandro Trossard, a Martin Odegaard penalty and Kai Havertz had Arsenal cruising into a 4-0 lead inside just 36 minutes in east London, only for West Ham to quickly hit back twice through Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson’s free-kick, before a Saka spot-kick just before half-time made it a three-goal advantage that held in a far tamer, scoreless second half after Gabriel - who went off injured at the break - was fouled by Lukasz Fabianski.

His effort against Sporting on Tuesday created headlines for his celebration, in which the 26-year-old appeared to mimic the gesture performed by prolific Sporting and Sweden striker - and rumoured Arsenal transfer target - Viktor Gyokeres, who tends to run to the corner flag with his fingers interlocked over his mouth and thumbs pointing upwards.

I’m Batman? Arsenal’s Gabriel celebrated his goal against West Ham in the same way as in the win over Sporting CP

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It was theorised after that game that Gabriel had been getting his own back on Sporting after Portuguese winger Pedro Goncalves had mimicked the celebration of former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka during the reigning Primeira Liga champions’ Europa League last-16 penalty shootout win at the Emirates back in March 2023.

However, Gabriel repeated the celebration after scoring once more against West Ham, with many fans on social media platform X offering a possible alternative theory for his actions.

Rather than place his interlocked fingers over his mouth, Gabriel did so again over his eyes - with suggestions that he is actually channeling Batman and his famous mask, with some thinking that Gyokeres’ signature celebration is inspired by Bane, one of the Caped Crusader’s biggest adversaries in the DC Comics and film franchise.

Gyokeres has never confirmed that his celebration is anything to do with Bane, but did appear to channel the character in a previous social media post.

“Nobody cared until I put on the mask,” he wrote alongside a picture of himself on Instagram celebrating a goal back in the summer, in a line similar to the famous one uttered by Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

There have been many other guesses as to the inspiration behind Gyokeres’ celebration, while he previously refuted the Batman links and a joking suggestion from former Coventry team-mate Josh Eccles that it was a reference to another famous book and film villain in Hannibal Lecter.

“I saw it,” he said last November. “There have been many guesses. That one, Batman and everything. No one has guessed correctly yet.

“It’s kind of funny, actually. When everyone asks. Maybe I’ll tell you someday, but not today.

When asked about Gabriel possibly mimicking his celebration after scoring for Arsenal against Sporting, Gyokeres said: “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.”