Sporting Lisbon’s attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves took a jibe at Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka after his missed penalty led to their elimination from the Europa League. The Portuguese ace, who scored a vital goal in the 3-3 draw against the Gunners, mocked Xhaka through his social media, adding fuel to the fire in their already heated rivalry. Read on to know more about the incident and how it unfolded.
Sporting Lisbon midfielder Pedro Goncalves stole the show during his side’s Europa League game against Arsenal, eliminating the Gunners from the competition. Goncalves equalised with a stunning goal, lobbing Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from near the halfway line. The Portuguese celebrated wildly after his goal but it wasn’t until Sporting beat Arsenal on penalties that he went over to the away fans and mimicked Granit Xhaka’s celebration. Xhaka had given Arsenal the lead and celebrated by putting his hand up to his nose and wiggling his fingers in what appeared to be a message to his daughter.
Former Arsenal star Kevin Campbell praised Goncalves’ goal, describing it as an “incredible strike” and said it was a “huge blow” for Arsenal to be knocked out of the competition at this stage. Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta was left furious with his players following their elimination. Speaking after the full-time whistle, he criticised his team for giving every single ball away and not having the capacity to dominate the game.
Arsenal must now focus on their fight to end their long wait for a domestic league crown, while Sporting move into the next round, where they could face another Premier League side in Manchester United.
In conclusion, the actions of Sporting Lisbon’s goal hero, Pedro Goncalves, have caused quite the stir on social media. While some may see his mockery of Granit Xhaka as unsportsmanlike, others argue that it was just a bit of banter on the field. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it is clear that Goncalves’ performance on the pitch left an indelible mark on Arsenal’s Europa League campaign. As the final whistle blew, it was Goncalves who emerged as the hero of the night, bringing Sporting Lisbon one step closer to their dream of clinching the coveted trophy. And while Xhaka may have had his moment of agony in the penalty shootout, there is no denying that he will be back, stronger than ever, ready to prove himself once again on the international stage. Until then, we can only wait and see what other thrilling moments await us in the world of football.
