Gary Neville has taken aim at Arsenal defender Gabriel, calling his actions ‘disrespectful’ after the Brazilian was seen laughing directly in Erling Haaland’s face during Arsenal’s dominant 5-1 victory over Manchester City.

The Gunners took an early lead at the Emirates Stadium, with Martin Odegaard finding the net in just the second minute. As Arsenal celebrated, Gabriel made a point of taunting Haaland, an act that drew mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike.

While many Arsenal supporters enjoyed the moment, Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville was critical of Gabriel’s antics.

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, he remarked, “I don’t like it. It feels a bit disrespectful. I understand Haaland plays the villain role for Arsenal fans, but that celebration just didn’t sit well with me.

“I was known for my aggressive style, but I never did that—never shouted in an opponent’s face. It made me uncomfortable.”

Sunday’s clash was the first meeting between Arsenal and City since their heated 2-2 draw in September, where tensions flared late in the match. In that game, Gabriel and Haaland both found the net before clashing after a dramatic equalizer from John Stones. The incident escalated when Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head, leading to a heated confrontation between players and staff.

Following the September draw, Haaland infamously told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble.” However, Gabriel showed little interest in heeding that advice, relishing his goal celebration in front of the City forward.

Haaland responded in the second half by leveling the score in the 55th minute, but his joy was short-lived as Thomas Partey restored Arsenal’s lead just moments later.

Myles Lewis-Skelly extended the advantage by scoring his first goal for the club, even imitating Haaland’s well-known meditation pose in celebration. Kai Havertz and substitute Ethan Nwaneri then sealed the emphatic 5-1 victory.

Since Haaland’s ‘stay humble’ remark, City’s form has taken a sharp decline.

Before the September draw, Guardiola’s side had won all four of their opening Premier League games. However, since then, they have struggled, securing just eight wins in 19 league matches while suffering seven defeats.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s political clout couldn’t sway the outcome of the Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) presidential election in favor of the Pheu Thai Party. Despite Thaksin’s campaign efforts, the incumbent independent candidate, Athitathorn Wanchaithanawong, emerged victorious over Pheu Thai’s Salakjit Tiyapairat.

Election Results

Unexpected Outcome

With 95% of the votes counted, Athitathorn secured a lead of nearly 20,000 votes over her Pheu Thai rival1. The final tally showed Athitathorn with 249,845 votes, while Salakjit received 230,262 votes. A third candidate, Jiraporn Muenchaiwong, garnered 20,254 votes1.

Thaksin’s Campaign Efforts

Promises and Visits

In the lead-up to the election, Thaksin made two campaign visits to Chiang Rai, promising better care from the central government if voters elected a PAO president from the ruling party. However, these promises failed to materialize into votes for the Pheu Thai candidate.

Voter Maturity

Local vs. National Politics

Athitathorn attributed her victory to the political maturity of Chiang Rai residents, stating that they have learned to differentiate between local and national politics. This suggests that voters prioritized local issues and candidate qualifications over national party affiliations.

Implications for Pheu Thai

Setback in the North

This defeat in Chiang Rai, a province in Thailand’s northern region where Thaksin once held significant influence, represents a setback for the Pheu Thai Party. It highlights the challenges the party faces in maintaining its stronghold in areas traditionally supportive of Thaksin and his political movement.

Broader Election Context

Mixed Results Nationwide

While Pheu Thai faced disappointment in Chiang Rai, the party performed well overall in the PAO elections held across Thailand. Unofficial results indicate that Pheu Thai secured victories in 18 provinces, the highest number among all parties. This suggests that while Thaksin’s influence may have waned in some areas, the party still maintains considerable support nationwide.

Thailand’s tennis team has secured a spot in the 2025 Davis Cup World Group II playoffs, showcasing their prowess on hard courts. However, their upcoming match against Cyprus on clay presents a new challenge.

Thailand’s Impressive Run

Domination in World Group III

Thailand demonstrated their strength in the Davis Cup World Group III Asia/Oceania event, winning all four of their matches and securing the top spot in Pool B4. This outstanding performance earned them a promotion to the World Group II playoffs for the 2025 season.

The Road Ahead

Clay Court Showdown in Cyprus

The Thai team’s next hurdle is a away match against Cyprus, scheduled to take place in Nicosia on clay courts. This surface change could prove challenging for the Thai players, who have shown their expertise primarily on hard courts.

Team Rankings and Expectations

Thailand’s Position in World Tennis

Thailand is currently ranked 66th in the Davis Cup nations ranking, while their opponents Cyprus hold the 69th position. Despite the slight ranking advantage, the change in playing surface adds an element of uncertainty to the upcoming tie.

The Importance of Adaptation

Preparing for Different Court Conditions

To succeed in the World Group II playoffs, Thailand’s team will need to adapt their game to suit clay court conditions. This transition will be crucial in their bid to continue their upward trajectory in the Davis Cup competition.

Looking Forward

Potential for Further Advancement

A victory against Cyprus would solidify Thailand’s position in the World Group II for the 2025 Davis Cup season. This presents an opportunity for the team to face higher-ranked opponents and potentially climb further up the Davis Cup ladder.