How does that saying go? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?
On Tuesday night, Arsenal FC traveled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea FC in a London derby. It was a highly entertaining match that ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw.
In the 63rd minute, 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli scored Arsenal’s first goal on the night to bring the Gunners level with their rivals.
What’s interesting from a Paris Saint-Germain perspective is that the Brazilian celebrated by copying Kylian Mbappé’s folded arms celebration.
18 YEAR OLD MARTINELLI 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/gzU1Z8ptKX
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 21, 2020
Ten-man Arsenal level thanks to an ❄️cool finish from Gabriel Martinelli!
The Brazilian runs the length of the field and slots home his 10th goal of the season 🔥🔥🔥
Watch out for the Kylian Mbappe celebration 👀 pic.twitter.com/WaTjb4Qaet
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 21, 2020
Love this kid – he’s a warrior. 👊#martinelli pic.twitter.com/WLUScgjWJr
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 21, 2020
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Premier League players copy Mbappé. The Liverpool FC defender with three first names, Trent Alexander-Arnold, recently did the same celebration.
Desperately looking for anything positive to cling to this season, Arsenal fans took to social media after the goal and made some pretty bold and hilarious claims. Here are a few of my favorites:
Martinelli using the Mbappe celebration to show there's a new kid in town pic.twitter.com/scrI6Oc9nm
— GoonerMartin🔴⚪AFC (@GUNNERFORCE15) January 21, 2020
Mbappe is the French Martinelli. Let’s be real.
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) January 21, 2020
Incase you’re wondering, Martinelli taught Mbappe this celebration. pic.twitter.com/8OsL2DomfR
— Amaechi. (@MansaMusaIII) January 21, 2020
Mbappe has a signed shirt of Martinelli in his living room. Pass it on😂 pic.twitter.com/DlgqUmBGCj
— Bill Eshun (@Bill_Eshun) January 21, 2020
Martinelli said Mbappe come outside 😭🤣 my striker #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/klCRsMoUUn
— Mxrcxs (@MarcusCJacob) January 21, 2020
Martinelli gonna be better than mbappe send tweet
— Jesse (@theJesseDiaz) January 21, 2020
Martinelli with the folded arm celebration.. Mbappe to arsenal confirmed then. #WelcomeMbappe #Mbappe2020
— Zak Martinelli Simmons (@ZakSimmons) January 21, 2020
What are they smoking at Arsenal?
The origin of the celebration actually comes from Mbappé’s brother, Ethan, while the two were playing a game of FIFA. The younger Mbappé did the celebration after scoring a goal in the video game and suggested that Kylian do the celebration during an actual match.
That’s one version, but there’s evidence to believe that Neymar Jr. was the first to do the celebration. You be the judge.
Congrats to Arsenal on the draw against Chelsea. Martinelli, who signed with the club last summer, has propelled the Gunners to 10th in the Premier League table with a highly anticipated UEFA Europa League tie against Olympiacos FC coming up.
Mbappé, who has already won a FIFA World Cup with France, is competing in four competitions with Paris Saint-Germain, including the UEFA Champions League. He recently stated that he hopes to win that trophy as well as this summer’s UEFA Euro 2020 and Olympic gold with France.
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