Gabriel Magalhães, the “Pocket” Celebration and a Night Arsenal Enjoyed Every Second Against Aston Villa

When footballers talk about momentum, confidence and little moments that lift a dressing room, they are often referring to nights like Arsenal’s emphatic win over Aston Villa at the Emirates. It had goals, authority, revenge and, perhaps most memorably, a playful post-match moment that quickly went viral. At the centre of it all was Gabriel Magalhães, back in the starting XI, back on the scoresheet, and very much back enjoying his football.

The Brazilian defender did not just help Arsenal to a statement Premier League victory. He also provided one of the lighter talking points of the weekend, copying Amadou Onana’s “pocket” celebration in the tunnel after full-time. It was cheeky, mischievous and very Arsenal in tone – confident without tipping into arrogance.

Gabriel Magalhães Returns With Authority for Arsenal

For Gabriel, this fixture felt like a personal milestone. After suffering an adductor injury on international duty in November, his road back had been cautious and carefully managed. He was eased in with a late cameo during the hard-fought 2-1 win over Brighton on December 27, a game that demanded composure and grit rather than flair.

Three days later, Mikel Arteta handed him his first start since returning, and not just in any match. This was Aston Villa, one of Arsenal’s most stubborn rivals in the title race, and a team that had beaten them earlier in the month at Villa Park. It was a proper test, physically and mentally.

The first half was tight and, at times, frustrating for the home side. Villa defended deep, pressed intelligently and were helped by the familiar presence of Emi Martinez, whose ability to disrupt rhythm and needle opponents remains unmatched. But Arsenal stayed patient, trusting their structure and their set-pieces.

Three minutes into the second half, that trust paid off.

Set-Piece Power and Gabriel’s Timely Goal Against Aston Villa

From a corner, Gabriel did what he does best. He attacked the space, battled through contact and forced the ball over the line in a crowded six-yard box. It wasn’t pretty, but it was decisive. Goals like that don’t make highlight reels, but they win titles.

That opener changed the tone of the game completely. Arsenal grew in confidence, Villa were forced to open up, and the Gunners never looked back. By the time the final whistle blew on a 4-1 win, the Emirates was buzzing and Arsenal had restored a five-point lead at the top of the table heading into 2026.

For Gabriel, the goal meant more than just numbers on the scoresheet.

“Personally, it feels very, very good,” he admitted afterwards. “I worked a lot to come back as quickly as possible. Today I’m so happy to be back with the team with a big win.”

It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Arteta values him so highly.

The “Pocket” Celebration: Gabriel Explains the Viral Moment

The goals and the result were one thing. What happened after the match is what truly caught the internet’s attention.

As Arsenal players made their way back down the tunnel, cameras captured Gabriel mimicking the now-famous “pocket” celebration – a routine popularised by Amadou Onana during Aston Villa’s recent winning run. Onana has regularly celebrated victories by pretending to put three points into his pocket, a gesture he repeated after wins over Manchester United and Chelsea.

This time, however, it was Gabriel doing the honours.

Naturally, the clip spread quickly. Was it mockery? Was it payback? Was it disrespectful? Gabriel was quick to clarify.

“Yes, yes,” he said when asked if the celebration was a nod to Onana. “Those sort of things spur you on. It’s good fun. It’s fun for them, it’s fun for us as well. We got the three points. It was not to get them back or to get Onana back. I know he’s a good guy.”

In short, it was footballers being footballers – competitive, playful and aware of the theatre that surrounds the modern game.

Respect Beneath the Rivalry Between Arsenal and Aston Villa

From Aston Villa’s perspective, it was a bruising night. Their run of 11 consecutive wins came to an abrupt end, and Unai Emery cut a frustrated figure at full-time, heading down the tunnel quickly after the final whistle.

But there was no sense that Gabriel’s gesture crossed a line. If anything, it underlined the growing rivalry between two teams who genuinely see each other as obstacles to silverware. Arsenal had been hurt at Villa Park earlier in the season. This was their response.

Moments like this often resonate inside dressing rooms. They strengthen bonds, create shared memories and feed into the belief that something special is building.

Arteta Praises Gabriel’s Influence and Leadership

Arteta, unsurprisingly, was delighted to have his centre-back back in action. He was particularly impressed by the timing of Gabriel’s return, coming straight into a game that demanded physical dominance and tactical discipline.

“He comes back from an injury of six weeks that probably should have been a bit longer,” Arteta said. “And he plays against probably the team that is the hardest to control. He impacted the game in an incredible way, both defending and in the opposition box.”

Paired once again with William Saliba, Gabriel brought balance and aggression to Arsenal’s back line. It is no coincidence that Arsenal look calmer, more assertive and more dangerous at set-pieces when he is fit.

A Demanding January Awaits Arsenal

There will be little time to dwell on celebrations. Arsenal’s January schedule is relentless, with nine matches across four competitions. A trip to Bournemouth is followed by heavyweight Premier League clashes against Liverpool, Manchester United and Leeds. There is also Champions League business against Inter, an FA Cup tie with Portsmouth, and a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

In that context, Gabriel’s return feels perfectly timed.

His goal, his performance and even his light-hearted tunnel moment all point to a player comfortable in his own skin, confident in his team and enjoying the ride. As title races go, Arsenal’s looks serious. And if they keep winning, there may be a few more “pocket” celebrations along the way – copied or otherwise.