Gabriel Magalhaes does not do quiet returns. When Arsenal dismantled Aston Villa 4-1 at the Emirates on New Year's Eve 2025, the Brazilian centre-back scored the opening goal, collected the man-of-the-match award, and produced a celebration that had supporters doing a double take. A clip from the club's media team showed Gabriel pretending to slide the three points into his pocket, a gesture widely associated with Villa midfielder Amadou Onana.

It was not an accident. Gabriel later confirmed he was imitating Onana, but insisted it was all in good spirits. “Yes, yes. Those sort of things spur you on. It's good fun. It's fun for them, it's fun for us as well. Like I said, we’ll get the three points,” he said.

A celebration with a little history behind it

This is far from the first time Gabriel has borrowed someone else's celebration. Last season, after Arsenal defeated Sporting CP, he performed Viktor Gyokeres’s trademark celebration before the striker eventually joined the North Londoners in the summer. The Brazilian clearly enjoys the subplots that come with big matches, and against Villa he seemed determined to make a point.

Did Onana take it personally? There is no real suggestion of bad blood. Modern football thrives on these micro-rivalries, and Gabriel's explanation frames it as competitive banter rather than disrespect.

Why his return matters more than the celebration

Gabriel had been missing since mid-November after picking up an injury while away with Brazil. In his absence, Arsenal's aura took a hit. Aston Villa beat them 2-1 at Villa Park, ending the Gunners' 11-game unbeaten run. Arsenal also dropped points at Chelsea despite playing against ten men for much of that contest.

His return changed the mood at the Emirates. Gabriel opened the scoring from a set piece, rising highest to head home. Martin Zubimendi quickly made it 2-0, before second-half strikes from Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus turned the game into a rout. Ollie Watkins scored a late consolation, but Arsenal had already sent a statement.

🗓️ Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa -- scorers

Arsenal	Aston Villa
Gabriel Magalhaes	Ollie Watkins
Martin Zubimendi
Leandro Trossard
Gabriel Jesus

The Carragher verdict

Jamie Carragher did not hold back when assessing Gabriel's importance after the match. He called the Brazilian the most influential player in the Premier League and repeated that his return is enormous for Mikel Arteta's side.

“Gabriel being back is huge. Before I've said that he's the most influential player in the Premier League, and we've seen it again tonight. It was fantastic for everybody in that stadium tonight,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

That is high praise for a defender, but the numbers and the eye test support it. Gabriel has two goals and two assists in 13 league appearances this season. More importantly, he has become one of Europe's most reliable centre-backs, forming a formidable partnership with William Saliba. Some observers now argue he has displaced even Saliba as the league's best defender.

What the win means for the title race

The result stopped Villa's 11-match winning streak and reinforced Arsenal's position at the top of the table. The league leaders moved five points clear of Manchester City, who were due to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on January 1st.

Could this be the moment Arsenal take control of the season? It is easy to get carried away on one performance, but the difference with Gabriel on the pitch is hard to ignore. Arsenal's only league defeat since losing to Liverpool in August came against Villa while he was on the sidelines. With him back, the spine looks settled again.

Gabriel's recovery is timely. The fixture list does not get any easier.

📅 Key upcoming Arsenal fixtures

• 🏟️ Liverpool -- January 8th

• 🌍 Inter Milan, Champions League -- January 20th

For Arteta, having Gabriel available for those tests changes the calculus. He can attack set pieces with more menace, defend transitions with more authority, and bring the emotional energy that lifts the crowd.

Fun, but focused

Gabriel's celebration might dominate social media for a few days, but the defender's performance will matter more in the long run. He returned from injury, scored a crucial opener, helped contain a dangerous Aston Villa side, and reminded the league why he is so highly rated.

Was the pocket gesture cheeky? Absolutely. Was it the only thing Arsenal fans cared about? Not even close. In a title race that could be decided by fine margins, Gabriel's availability and form could prove even more valuable than three points against Villa. Still, he made sure those three points were safely pocketed -- literally, if his celebration is to be believed.