
The Football Faithful
·28. September 2025
Nick Woltemade refuses Arsenal star’s apology for elbow strike

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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·28. September 2025
Nick Woltemade was so furious with Gabriel Magalhaes for striking him with an elbow that he refused to accept the Arsenal defender’s apology.
The German striker opened the scoring for his second goal in three games since joining the Magpies from Stuttgart in the summer transfer window.
But the Gunners fought back to score twice late on and secure a dramatic victory. Substitute Mikel Merino equalised with a header before Gabriel did the same deep into added time for the winner.
“If you [concede] two real late goals, it don’t feel good if you’re 90 minutes 1-0 in front. Yeah, just doesn’t feel good,” Woltemade told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle.
Gabriel was fortunate to still be on the pitch when he scored the decisive goal after elbowing Woltemade in the face when play resumed after the Newcastle goal. The frontman remonstrated with the centre-back immediately and complained to the referee, Jarred Gillett, about the incident, but no action was taken.
“After the goal there was a situation I felt his elbow in my face in two metres, so his arm has to be really high,” Woltemade said.
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“I don’t know, I just said it to the referee that I felt something in the face and I think it’s not right to feel something in the face but I’m not the type of player to fall down for this. It’s hard because sometimes maybe you have to do this but this is not my type of football.
“He said sorry after, so I think he knew he hit me in my face. It didn’t solve the situation to be honest.”
Asked why he didn’t accept the Arsenal star’s apology, Woltemade added: “I don’t like this, if you do some things in game and then a few seconds you say sorry, that’s not part of the game. I like this situation where you can have a good battle but his elbow should not be in my face.”
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