PL star defends Arsenal after controversy and praises ’emotion’ of Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal’s recent celebration controversy following their victory over Liverpool looks set to continue until they face West Ham United tomorrow.

Mikel Arteta’s side delivered an outstanding performance, which saw them create the most xG Liverpool have ever faced in a Premier League game, yet they have been criticised by Jamie Carragher more than the losing team because of their post-match celebrations.

The result saw Arsenal claw their way back into the title race, but they have been accused of over-celebrating, and Liverpool star Curtis Jones even claimed that they had copied them when it comes to the way they celebrate victories.

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has now weighed in on the situation, and has claimed that the significance of the game meant that their happiness was justified, and was something positive that Arteta had introduced.

Tom Cairney praises Arteta amid celebration storm

Speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Cairney claimed that he thought the celebrations were acceptable given the circumstances, and was surprised at the reaction from Carragher and Gary Neville.

“It’s the emotion of it, I think they’re quite an emotional team. Their manager obviously wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s very animated on the sideline,” he stated of Arteta.

“That’s just how he manages, the way he is. do honestly think Arsenal knew in the back of their minds that if they lost, the title race was not over, but very very difficult.

“When they won it was kind of like relief. I feel like it was deserved but I think Carragher and [Gary] Neville saw Odegaard taking pictures with the cameraman and thought it was a bit much.

“Neville’s won leagues, I haven’t. He’s telling them to chill and he’s got more of an opinion than me.”

Footballers should be allowed to celebrate

Currently active Premier League players in Michail Antonio and Tom Cairney have both come out in defence of Arsenal’s celebrations, and this does show that at the top level of football, celebrations do not reflect a poor mentality.

Carragher and Neville enjoyed success as players in a different era of the game, and Arteta’s management style is something they would not have encountered in their careers.

Arteta defended captain Martin Odegaard for celebrating with club photographer Stuart MacFarlane, claiming that he loved the connection between his players and the rest of the club, and the celebrations with the fans was something to be proud of rather than criticised.