Martin Odegaard sends message to Arsenal celebration police after new criticism | OneFootball

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Martin Odegaard has defended Arsenal’s celebrations after Sunday's huge win over Liverpool.

The Gunners blew the title race wide open and moved to within two points of the Premier League leaders with a 3-1 victory over them at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal players celebrated with a lap of honour, with captain Odegaard taking a picture of the club photographer on the pitch. After the third goal, manager Mikel Arteta reacted by sprinting down the touchline.

Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher criticised the post-match scenes. Neville said the celebrations showed “a little bit of immaturity”, while Carragher said Arsenal’s players should “just get down the tunnel”.

But Odegaard has defended the team’s behaviour after a win he hopes will reignite the club’s title bid.

“I think everyone who loves football, who understands football, they know how much it means to win this game,” said the Norwegian. “And if you’re not allowed to celebrate when you win a game, when are you allowed to celebrate?

"We are happy with the win and we’ll stay humble. We keep working hard and we prepare for the next one — but you have to be happy when you win.”

Martin Odegaard attracted criticism for his post-match celebrations after Arsenal beat Liverpool

Action Images via Reuters

On taking a picture of club photographer Stuart MacFarlane in front of Arsenal fans, Odegaard said: “He is such a big Arsenal fan, such a big heart for the club, he’s been here so long… yeah, I thought it was a nice moment for him to get a good memory as well.”

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright hit out at criticism of Arsenal’s celebrations and told Arteta to keep celebrating with passion.

“Why is everybody trying to kill the joy? Don’t kill the joy,” said Wright. “There’s so much of the season to go. As soon as Arsenal do anything, they just come under a pile-on. It’s like we can’t have any joy. It’s like England at a World Cup or a Euros. As soon as England start doing well, everyone is jumping on them!

“The negativity towards the manager: what has he done apart from celebrating a goal and celebrating his team? Celebrating a team that is trying to beat these juggernauts, Liverpool and Manchester City?

“And because he’s celebrating, because Martin Odegaard is taking a picture with Stuart the photographer, a lifelong Gunner? This man has been supporting Arsenal since he was five or something ridiculous like that. Taking a picture in front of the North Bank, what’s wrong with doing that?

“My manager (Arteta), celebrate with passion like you do, because that’s what it’s about. People are expecting us to bottle it and lose these games and we’re going through it, we’re getting ourselves through, through injuries and everything, and the hatred is just so intense.”

Arsenal’s win sets up the prospect of a three-way title race. City can move level on points with Arsenal with a win at Brentford on Monday night, and Pep Guardiola’s side would still have a game in hand.

Defeat on Sunday would have left Arsenal eight points adrift of Liverpool, and Odegaard says the squad were well aware of the magnitude of the game.

“It was a really good game, important game, big game and I think we really showed up,” he said. “As you say, it could have been eight points [if we’d lost] and it would look a lot more difficult then, but we showed up.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to sign a new long-term contract. His deal is due to expire in 2025 and, while Arsenal have an option to extend it by a year, the club wants to tie him down on fresh terms.