Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher was not pleased with the antics of Arsenal club captain Martin Odegaard on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard was in the thick of the celebrations after Arsenal got their Premier League title bid back on track with a 3-1 win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
The Norwegian playmaker produced a magnificent performance in the match itself, combining excellently with those around him and leading the press tirelessly from the first minute to the last. It was the kind of display that underlined his qualifications to wear the armband for the north London club, as he led by example throughout with his application and work rate.
After the final whistle, it was pandemonium at the Emirates Stadium, as every fan of the club recognised the importance of this result. Defeat would have seen the Gunners cast eight points adrift of Liverpool, who currently sit at the top of the Premier League table, and would have seen Arsenal all but out of the title race.
Now, though, Mikel Arteta’s side are just two points behind the Reds and are riding a wave of positive momentum, having won their last three matches on the bounce.
The Arsenal fans, players, and staff will all feel that the exuberance of their celebrations after the final whistle were justified. However, there are those who felt that the Gunners got a little carried away.
Jamie Carragher takes aim at Martin Odegaard role in Arsenal celebrations
Not for the first time this season, Arsenal have drawn criticism for the level of their celebrations.
On this occasion, as Odegaard enjoyed the occasion by borrowing a camera and taking a picture of the club’s official photographer Stuart MacFarlane, he drew the ire of Jamie Carragher.
Commentating on Sky Sports, and watching the midfielder snap a shot of MacFarlane in front of a mass of rapturous supporters in the stands, the clearly irked former defender said, “just get down the tunnel. You’ve won a game. It’s three points. You’ve been brilliant, you’re back in the title race. Get down the tunnel.”
As a Liverpool supporter, Carragher was clearly in no mood to see Odegaard basking in the moment.
Arsenal, and the club’s supporters, will not find their own joy diminished by the pundit’s sardonic response. Arsenal want to upset the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City this season, ideally by beating them to the title. The Gunners took a positive, albeit far from definitive, step in that direction yesterday. Liverpool fans can hardly be expected to be happy about it.
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