Arsenal's 2-0 triumph over Manchester United in the Premier League was directly linked to Jesse Lingard's controversial goal celebration during their earlier FA Cup meeting, as revealed by goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Lingard's theatrical 'moonwalk' routine following his goal in Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round victory at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in January sparked outrage among the Gunners' players. The winger's display, which he later shared on Instagram with a 'dancefloor' location tag, became a focal point for Arsenal's determination to exact revenge in their subsequent league encounter.
The Gunners secured a 2-0 win through Granit Xhaka's opener and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty, ending Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's unbeaten domestic run since December. The result also propelled Arsenal above United in the Champions League qualification race.
Leno acknowledged the psychological impact of Lingard's antics, stating, "In your mind you will never forget something like that, when somebody is celebrating." The goalkeeper emphasized the team's motivation, noting their two-point lead over United provided additional incentive.
Mesut Ozil referenced the incident in a post-match tweet, writing, "Dancefloor huh?! Superb performance! Brilliant result!" While Lingard missed the match due to injury, his earlier actions remained a key talking point for Arsenal's players.
