Richard Keys offers surprise Mikel Arteta praise after what he noticed in Arsenal win

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Richard Keys has amazingly praised Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal manager’s behaviour against West Ham on the weekend.

The Emirates Stadium coach was criticised last week after Arsenal’s win against Liverpool as Arteta committed the cardinal sin of celebrating a massive result for the north London side.

Pundits and rival fans have all taken numerous opinions on Arsenal’s antics for the traumatic scenes that occurred in the English capital, with Martin Odegaard even going as so far as to take pictures of club photographer Stuart MacFarlane with the home crowd.

Mikel Arteta praised after Arsenal’s 6-0 win vs West Ham

Sarcasm aside, Keys has now praised Arteta for his lack of celebrations against West Ham, with Arsenal coming away 6-0 winners at the London Stadium in what was a statement performance for the Gunners.

Indeed, the BeIN Sports pundit is often the first to jump on Arteta’s back whenever the Basque shows any sort of positive emotion about his club winning a football match, which is why Keys was pleased to see the Arsenal manager relaxed on Sunday.

Keys wrote on his personal blog: “Arteta proved that he can behave himself on a touchline. There were none of his usual tiresome antics – which he claims are because he’s an excitable character. Nonsense.

“I know why he behaved – because David Moyes was in the other technical area and he has too much respect for his old boss. So – try pretending he’s there every week Mikel. You looked dignified for once. Well done.”

Arsenal shouldn’t be condemned for over-celebrating

Celebrating football is what gives the sport meaning, with Arsenal fans and everyone associated with the club well within their right to go nuts at the full-time whistle after a big win.

For the first time this season, the Gunners look the real deal in the race for the Premier League title, with Arteta cracking the code on how to get the best out of his new-look squad.

And should more big wins come their way in the coming weeks, Arsenal should not be criticised for wanting to celebrate, with the north London side taking it easy against West Ham.