Martin Odegaard has defended Arsenal’s joyful celebrations after Sunday’s win over Liverpool, asking: “If you’re not allowed to celebrate when you win a game, when are you allowed to celebrate?”
Arsenal were criticised by some television pundits, including Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, for their celebrations following the thrilling 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
As part of those celebrations, Odegaard had taken a picture of Arsenal’s club photographer, Stuart MacFarlane, in front of the home crowd. A few minutes earlier, manager Mikel Arteta had reacted to his team’s third goal by sprinting down the touchline.
Telegraph Sport columnist and Sky Sports pundit Carragher said during the celebrations that Arsenal’s players should “just get down the tunnel”, while Neville later added that there was “immaturity” in Arsenal’s post-match behaviour.
Asked after the match about accusations of over-celebrating, Odegaard said: “No, I think everyone who loves football, they know how much it means to win this game.
“And if you are not allowed to celebrate when you win a game, when are you allowed to celebrate? We are happy with the win and we will stay humble. We keep working hard and we prepare for the next one but of course you have to be happy when you win.”
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On the pictures with MacFarlane, the Arsenal captain added: “He’s such a big Arsenal fan, such a big heart for the club. He has been here so long. I thought it was a nice moment for him to get a good memory as well.”
Arsenal’s players had succeeded in whipping up the home crowd throughout the game, with Arteta saying after the match that it was the best atmosphere at the Emirates this season.
“I think the supporters are so important to us, they are crucial in terms of getting momentum in the games,” said Odegaard. “When you have the fans behind you, you get the crowd going, we get so much energy from it and I think you see that with all the players now. That’s a good thing. We need to keep doing it.”
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has also hit back at accusations of over-celebrating, asking: “Why is everybody trying to kill the joy?”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
