The north London rivalry has heated up off the pitch after Tottenham’s Richarlison took a playful swipe at Arsenal’s Gabriel following their 1-0 pre-season win in Hong Kong. The Brazilian forward shared a photo celebrating his Man of the Match performance, but Gabriel wasn’t about to let it slide. The Arsenal defender responded with a savage reminder of his own accomplishments in crucial Premier League derbies, leaving no doubt about who has the upper hand when the stakes are highest.
The battle for bragging rights in north London has found a new battleground on social media after Tottenham striker Richarlison took a cheeky shot at Arsenal’s Gabriel following their pre-season clash in Hong Kong. Tottenham triumphed 1-0 in the friendly, with Richarlison playing a key role and earning the Man of the Match award. In a post on Instagram, he shared a picture with his trophy and tagged Gabriel, clearly taking a playful jab at his compatriot.
However, Gabriel wasn’t about to let this go unanswered. Although he didn’t feature in the match due to injury, the Arsenal centre-back responded by posting images of his own Man of the Match awards from past north London derbies. The twist? Gabriel’s trophies weren’t from friendlies or exhibition games but from the intense, high-stakes Premier League encounters where the real bragging rights are earned.
One of the standout moments came from the 2023–24 season, where Gabriel played a key role in Arsenal’s 3-2 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, earning him Man of the Match honors. He also helped Arsenal secure a 1-0 win at Spurs’ ground the previous season and was named Man of the Match in a tense 2-1 win at the Emirates.
In his response, Gabriel was sure to remind Richarlison that, when it truly matters, he has consistently delivered in the fiercest of rivalries. While the pre-season encounter in Hong Kong may have been Richarlison’s moment, Gabriel’s message was clear: when the Premier League points are on the line, the stakes are much higher.
Fans of both teams now have to wait until November 22 for the first official north London derby of the 2025–26 season, but with both Gabriel and Richarlison fully fit by then, expect this rivalry to continue with even more intensity. With both Brazilians eager to prove their worth, the stage is set for another fiery clash between Arsenal and Tottenham.
