Tal Rehman, the Manchester City supporter who went viral for mocking Arsenal fans with a bottle gesture, has broken his silence after Arsenal players targeted him online following their Premier League title triumph. The City fan insisted the stunt was harmless banter and congratulated the Gunners on ending their 22-year drought.
Arsenal secured their first Premier League title since 2004 when Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The dramatic conclusion sparked jubilant celebrations from Mikel Arteta's squad, who had finished as runners-up in each of the previous three seasons. Several Arsenal players seized the moment to reference Rehman's viral bottle gesture, which had become symbolic of accusations that the club habitually underperformed in title races.
Arsenal Stars Join the Celebration
Defender Gabriel Magalhaes posted a split image on Instagram comparing Rehman's contrasting reactions throughout the campaign, captioning it with a pointed question about overthinking the rivalry. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly featured in a dressing-room video, humorously referencing bottles while holding champagne in celebration of the title win.
Rather than responding with bitterness, Rehman addressed Arsenal's players directly and wished them success going forward. He told talkSPORT: "Listen guys, enjoy it. It's took you 22 years to win a championship. Honestly, I'm not bitter about it. It was a joke that you guys have taken to the next extreme. Just enjoy the moment. If you defend it, great. And if you win the Champions League, I may have to move to the moon."
What Lies Ahead for Arsenal
The Gunners now turn their attention to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, where a victory would deliver a historic double. Arsenal's league success ends a painful chapter marked by repeated near-misses under Guardiola's dominant Manchester City side, with the club's last domestic title dating back to the celebrated Invincibles season under Arsène Wenger. Rehman's gracious response demonstrates how the intense rivalry between these two clubs ultimately transcends individual moments of fan theatre.
