Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United booked their spot in the Carabao Cup final with an emphatic 4-0 aggregate victory over Arsenal, sealing the deal with a 2-0 win at St. James’ Park. While the entire team played with an intensity that rattled the Gunners, it was Kieran Trippier who embodied the Magpies’ fiery spirit delivering a performance that was as dominant as it was aggressive.
Trippier’s relentless approach on the right flank saw him win duels, put in crunching tackles, and constantly unsettle Arsenal’s attack.
The former Tottenham defender particularly took a liking to Gabriel Magalhaes, clattering into the Brazilian on multiple occasions before celebrating right in his face.
The numbers backed up his influence: eight clearances, two blocked shots, an interception, and three tackles—all while engaging in a combined 14 duels on the ground and in the air.
As impressive as Trippier’s performance was, the conversation online about his performances took a different turn altogether.
The right-back’s name began trending, not just for his footballing exploits but for a wave of tweets linking his performance to an old scandal that brewed in Newcastle.
Tweets flooded in: “Kieran John Trippier pick any uni fresher you desire my mate what a f***ing performance this is.” “Some university student is GETTING IT from Trippier tonight he’s bang up for this.”
At first glance, the references seemed bizarre. But those familiar with Newcastle United’s off-field rumors knew exactly what these tweets were hinting at—the Vermont Hotel scandal.
Back in 2023, Newcastle United found themselves at the center of controversy when allegations emerged regarding several of their players allegedly being involved in a wild night at the Vermont Hotel in the city center. Details about what exactly happened, what’s true, and what’s not are murky to date.
Reports and leaked messages suggested that up to five players were involved in the gathering, and the chats revealed their alleged actions at the Vermont. Word spread that Trippier had an alleged affair with a university student and that he was splitting up with his wife. The chats named Joelinton and Pope, along with two others as well.
There was no significant evidence apart from the supposed leaked chats, which eventually led to the speculations dying down, with many suggesting it was a stupid rumour: “Are people actually believing these stories? I thought people were just going along with it,” said one user.
Although the resurfacing of this reference shows the internet’s ability to link things and latch on to past details quickly. Fans couldn’t help themselves after watching Trippier’s performance against Arsenal, believing he could do whatever he wanted off-field as long as he performed like that for the Magpies.
Another user tweeted about the dominant performance and the meme, posting a picture captioned “Trippier emptying his pockets after tonight’s game,” and the images being, a key to a hotel room, Leandro Trossard, and divorce papers.
