Mauro Icardi repeats Arsenal Invincibles’ epic penalty fail 18 years later… and can’t resist laughing at himself
MAURO ICARDI accidentally recreated the most infamous penalty miss in Premier League history – but couldn’t help laughing at himself.
The Galatasaray superstar aped Arsenal‘s 2005 cock-up when Robert Pires failed to make contact with a cheeky short pass to fellow “Invincibles” legend Thierry Henry.
This time Turkey winger Kerem Akturkoglu did at least manage to tap the ball sideways.
But Icardi somehow slotted the pass wide when the İstanbulspor keeper was on the ground.
The ex-PSG frontman briefly held his head in his hands.
But he soon burst into a huge grin as he walked back swinging his arms.
That reaction was almost as remarkable as his miss – because Galatasaray were attempting to extend their lead at the top of the Turkish top-flight.
Shocked fans posted “Are you serious?”
And the Argentina hitman instantly proved he certainly was – as he hit the only goal at lowly Istanbulspor on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s notorious spot-kick calamity is still the centre of controversy – 18 years later.
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Pires seemed to stumble when he tried to nudge the ball to Henry – with Manchester City defender Danny Mills rushing into clear before the referee gave a free-kick.
But former strike hero Henry told Sky Sports: “That penalty should have been retaken, because the ball never moved from the spot.”