Gabriel Magalhaes wasted little time in delivering a pointed response to a viral Manchester City supporter after Arsenal finally secured their first Premier League title in 22 years on Tuesday evening. The Brazilian centre-back took aim at Tal Rehman, the City fan who gained widespread attention throughout the season for mocking the Gunners with an Arsenal-themed water bottle during fixtures.
Arsenal's mathematical confirmation as champions came after Bournemouth held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium. While Pep Guardiola's side fought to the final whistle with Erling Haaland equalising a Eli Junior Kroupi opener, the dropped points proved decisive. The result meant Mikel Arteta's squad could celebrate at their London Colney training base without needing to play their own fixture that evening.
Gabriel's Instagram Response Silences the Critics
Gabriel shared a split-screen image on his Instagram story contrasting the City supporter's facial expressions throughout the campaign, captioning it with the pointed question: "Think too much?" The post directly referenced Rehman's earlier antics of mimicking the collection of Arsenal fans' tears into his infamous bottle—a symbolic gesture rooted in years of "bottler" accusations levelled at the north London club.
The 26-year-old defender wasn't alone in settling scores with doubters. Declan Rice, instrumental throughout Arsenal's title push, posted a photograph alongside teammates with the caption: "I told you all.. it's done." This echoed his steadfast belief even after a painful 2-1 defeat to City back in April. Bukayo Saka took a more playful approach, filming a video alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly where both mocked the persistent bottling narrative by joking about now "holding the bottles"—this time as trophy winners rather than tearful losers.
Breaking Two Decades of Hurt
This triumph marks Arsenal's first domestic crown since the legendary Invincibles team of 2004, ending over two decades of frustration for supporters. The Gunners will officially lift their 14th league title on Sunday against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. However, Arteta's ambitions extend far beyond domestic silverware. Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest, with a historic double—and their first-ever European Cup—within reach.
For now, Gabriel and his teammates are savouring vindication against the narrative that has defined recent Arsenal seasons. The centre-back's response to Rehman encapsulates a squad that has converted years of heartbreak into undeniable silverware, proving that resilience ultimately trumps mockery.
