Mikel Arteta don respond to those wey dey yarn say im players over-celebrate after Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid to reach Champions League final. The Gunners coach say he go put the criticism “where e belong”.
Arsenal don book dia place for the final for Budapest on May 30 against Paris Saint-Germain, after dem beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate for semi-final. The jubilation for Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night bin burst, with Arteta and im players join hands and run to all corners of the pitch.
But some people, like former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, say the celebration too much. Rooney yarn for Amazon Prime: “Dem deserve to dey for this position, but dem never win am yet. The celebrations small small too much. Celebrate when you win.”
When dem ask Arteta about the matter on Friday, the Arsenal boss just laugh. “First of all, I no know about am,” he talk. “You must respect every opinion and put dem where dem belong.” Dem ask am where e go put dem, Arteta answer: “Where dem belong. I no know. That no important.”
Arsenal fans don dey book flights go Budapest, as the club dey aim to become European champion for the first time. Arteta side still dey top of Premier League, so dem fit do the double. But some critics say dem still never win anything.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright don tell fans to enjoy the moment. For X, e write: “Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this. The celebration police go out for force. No get nicked! Enjoy yourselves, football na about moments and this na big moment.”
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, wey lead the Gunners to dia only other Champions League final for 2006, talk for beIN Sports: “Dem celebrate well tonight, wey be normal. But you want more to focus already on the final and the next game. The celebration deserved and happiness absolutely normal, but now the next step na to go to the final and win am.”
Arteta insist say im focus dey on the Premier League match against West Ham for Sunday, wey Sky Sports go show live. “We talk immediately after the game say this na great, what a moment, we earn am, and we go get time to prepare and get ready for that final,” e explain.
“I dey for very high emotional state after the game because we know wetin am mean to everybody – our supporters, players and the staff. But you must believe me, my concentration, my focus and my energy bin dey on West Ham and we make that very clear.”
Arteta also reveal say e receive congratulatory message from Pep Guardiola, wey e work with for Manchester City before coming to Arsenal. “All of dem don dey in touch in a really beautiful way,” e talk about Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and David Moyes. “Dem be big part of this as well, because dem help me to develop, to evolve, to learn from dem.”
West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, wey earlier play for Arsenal, warn say the Hammers go dey just as fired up as Arsenal for Sunday game. “We dey as hungry as dem, just for different things,” e tell Sky Sports News. “We get to go for am because that our only option.”
Chartered sports psychologist Bradley Busch tell BBC Sport say the collective celebration indicate “very healthy team and squad mindset”. E explain say “emotional contagion” fit spread unity through team. “On more fundamental level, players no dey do am to improve future performance – dem dey do am because na sheer release of thinking and breathing about this stuff 24/7.”
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