Ian Wright hits back at Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville over Arsenal celebration criticism… stating ‘you lot can take the p**s if it doesn’t happen like you normally do, but let us enjoy now!’
Ian Wright has criticized his fellow pundits for criticizing Arsenal’s celebrations after Sunday’s win over Liverpool and says Mikel Arteta and his team should be allowed to enjoy the moment.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were all on the scoresheet to help the Gunners win 3-1 and close the gap on Liverpool and Man City at the top of the Premier League.
Arteta was overcome with emotion after the final whistle, while Martin Odegaard had some fun with the club photographer at the end of the match, taking pictures of him celebrating in the Emirates.
Jamie Carragher contacted Odegaard because he had taken pictures of their club photographer Stuart MacFarlane. While Gary Neville said their celebrations were a sign of immaturity.
Rio Ferdinand also took aim at the Arsenal side before attacking Arteta for making ‘laps around the ground’ before celebrating as if the Gunners had won the Premier League.
Ian Wright has criticized his fellow pundits for criticizing Arsenal’s celebrations after Sunday’s win over Liverpool and says Mikel Arteta and his team should be allowed to enjoy the moment.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were all on the scoresheet to help the Gunners win 3-1 and close the gap on Liverpool and Man City at the top of the table.
Arsenal manager Arteta was overcome with emotion after the final whistle on Sunday
Wright was furious at the reaction to Arsenal’s celebrations, saying on social media that his former side were well within their rights to ‘enjoy’ the moment – saying: ‘Y’all can take the p**s if it doesn’t happen like you. normally do. Leave us alone’.
In the video shared with
‘Celebrating a team trying to beat these juggernauts, Liverpool and Manchester City, in the Premier League.
‘And because he’s celebrating? Because Martin Odegaard has his picture taken with Stuart the photographer? A lifelong shooter.
‘This guy (Stuart the photographer) has been supporting Arsenal since he was five or something ridiculous like that.
‘Just taking a photo in front of the north bank, what’s wrong with the captain (Martin Odegaard) doing that?
‘It has nothing to do with the fact that we just beat Liverpool, it’s just an opportunity. Why is everyone trying to kill the joy? Don’t kill the joy.
‘There is still a large part of the season to go. As soon as Arsenal do something, they will be under pressure. It’s like we can’t have any joy.
Martin Odegaard had some fun with the club photographer at the end of the match and took pictures of him celebrating in the Emirates
However, experts such as Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand struck home at Arsenal
‘It’s like England at a World Cup or a European Championship: as soon as England starts doing well, everyone jumps on it!
‘It’s the same thing that’s happening with Arsenal. Don’t let them spoil the joy. Keep doing what you’re doing. Whatever’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. Don’t kill the joy.
“My manager, celebrate it with passion like you, because that’s what it’s all about.
“People expect us to bottle it up and lose these games and we go through it, we get through it, through injuries and everything, and the hate is just so intense.
‘Just leave us alone. Y’all can take the p**s if it doesn’t happen the way you normally do. Leave us alone in the joy.
‘Enjoy Arsenal fans! Enjoy our moments! Because that’s all this game is: moments. And we had one tonight: we beat the great Liverpool, who are at the top of the league. On to the gunners!’
Wright felt the need to defend Arteta after the likes of Richard Keys attacked the Arsenal manager on beIN Sports for his post-match celebrations.
After Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, Keys said: ‘I’ve hesitated until now, but now you’ve got me.
Carragher thought Odegaard should ‘go into the tunnel’ after the win and not take any photos
However, Wright said it was nice for the captain to celebrate with the club photographer
Rio Ferdinand also took aim at the Arsenal side before attacking Arteta for making ‘laps around the ground’ before celebrating as if the Gunners had won the Premier League.
‘Today (Sunday) is certainly worth celebrating, they have beaten one of the big teams and that starts the title race.
‘But I wish Arteta would behave much better than he did, he is back to how he was persistent last year.
‘I wish he had a bit more class’, in a scathing indictment of the Spanish manager’s displays of emotion on the touchline.’
Carragher also hit out at Odegaard for his post-match celebrations, claiming the Arsenal star ‘just had to come through the tunnel’.
Carragher told Sky Sports: ‘Just go into the tunnel! You’ve won a big game, you’ve got the three points, you’re back in the title race.
‘Just go into the tunnel. I mean it seriously.’
Neville agreed with Carragher and said Arsenal’s post-match celebrations were excessive, before saying they could do with ‘quiet’ heads in the dressing room.
Neville said: ‘I always doubted this Arsenal team could win the title, just looking at the things that happened.
Gary Neville said Arsenal’s celebrations on Sunday were a sign of immaturity
‘The exuberant celebration against Aston Villa (after the 4-2 win in February). I look at little things that might look a little harsh.
‘Oleksandr Zinchenko celebrates with the fans outside the stadium an hour after the match and shouts.
“You want your leaders on the team, who have been there before, to spread calm in the locker room and calm everyone down.
“You don’t want them to take away the fear and the emotion.”