Mikel Arteta fires back at Arsenal critics after ‘over-celebrating’ claims

Mikel Arteta has downplayed criticism of Arsenal’s celebrations after their victory against Liverpool, stating that he wasn’t aware of it.

The Gunners revived their Premier League title hopes with a 3-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side, leading to jubilant scenes at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta was visibly energetic on the touchline, and the players celebrated the result enthusiastically after the match.

The post-match celebrations saw team captain Martin Odegaard seizing the club photographer’s camera to capture moments, even taking a photo of the photographer himself. These actions led to accusations of ‘over-celebrating,’ with TV commentator Richard Keys urging Arsenal to “display a bit more dignity.”

Former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher also criticised what he saw as over-celebration by the Arsenal players during Sky Sports’ coverage of the match. However, when Arteta was asked about the situation in his Friday press conference, the former Everton player remained unapologetic.

“I didn’t know anything about it. No, but I love it. I’ve seen managers at the Emirates away on their knees, personally I love it because it brings a passion to the game. When it’s done in a natural and unique way.”

Arsenal’s victory over league leaders Liverpool narrowed the gap between the two sides to two points ahead of this weekend’s fixtures. Liverpool will host Burnley at Anfield on Saturday, while Arsenal will have the opportunity to respond when they visit West Ham United on Sunday.