Reporter at Arsenal vs Man City forced to take off Palestine badge after Hamas attacks on Israel

Arsenal beat Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 09/10/2023

- 08:19

The Gunners won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium following a dramatic late goal from Gabriel Martinelli

A reporter at Arsenal's Premier League win over Manchester City was forced to remove a badge with the Palestine flag on Sunday.

It comes after Hamas militants bombarded Israel with attacks over the weekend.


Tensions in the Middle East have been high for a number of years and at least 700 people, including 44 soldiers, have lost their lives.

The Israel Defense Forces also stated that 2,100 people had been wounded and 250 of the dead had been recovered from the site of a music festival.

Palestine

A reporter at Arsenal's win over Man City had to take off a Palestine badge (not pictured)

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According to the Daily Mail, at the Emirates on Sunday, a reporter working for Qatar-based beIN Sport was asked to take off a badge featuring the Palestine flag.

The report doesn't say whether they kicked up a fuss or obliged with the order.

Two former Premier League footballers were caught up in the chaos in the region over the weekend, too.

Robbie Keane and Rory Delap currently work at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

And they were forced to flee to Greece after the attacks after hiding out in a 'panic room'.

As for the football, Arsenal secured their first Premier League win over Manchester City since 2015 in the match in north London.

It was a contest of few chances, with both teams unable to operate at their best.

But Arsenal were able to secure victory late on following a deflected strike from winger Gabriel Martinelli.

It means the Gunners are now second in the league table, behind fierce rivals Tottenham.

Spurs soared to the summit on Saturday after a narrow 1-0 victory away at Luton, with Micky van de Ven scoring the only goal of the game.

Speaking after Arsenal's win over City, Mikel Arteta hailed his players and said they fought until the end in order to come out on top.

"So proud. It was the moment with the right people and the right players," he said.

"We knew we would have to suffer and we did that. You need a big performance and the crowd too. It feels like a big win.

"I think the way we started we conceded the corner and then we gained some control and in the second half we started really good.

"We were there and really aggressive. The changes helped as well. The quality they produced in the goal was top.

"[City] give you a lot [of problems] and we gave them a lot of issues as well.

"It is not easy to get out. You need the right timing, the right movement, the right moments. I like the courage.

"You are going to have these [hard] moments against this team.

"You have to be direct and manage the emotions and make sure you don't get caught against this team."

City boss Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, congratulated Arsenal on their win.

"That game, we started really well with two or three chances," said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager. "They started the second half really well with the rhythm.

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was proud of his players after their win over Man City

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"Then it was tight and they got a deflection goal. They won, congratulations to them.

"We tried. We did it. I think from both sides there was not a lot of chances.

"I think both teams did good high pressing. It was tight and in the end, one action, we lost the game.

"Ten minutes was like that [Arsenal on top] and after it was equal.

"We had also our moments but in general it was a tight game. Unfortunately, they did it."

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