Odegaard and the club photographer shared a special moment after the Liverpool win (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has hit back at criticism he and his Arsenal players faced over their celebrations that followed last weekend’s victory over Liverpool.
The Gunners sealed a 3-1 victory over Jurgen Klopp’s side at the Emirates last Sunday, closing the gap on the league leaders to just two points to remain firmly in the Premier League title race.
After taking the lead following a calamitous error involving Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, Leandro Trossard wrapped up the win with a late goal that sparked jubilant celebrations from Arteta who tore down the touchline.
Martin Odegaard shared a moment with the club’s photographer Stuart MacFarlane at full-time, taking his camera and taking pictures in front of the Emirates crowd.
Jamie Carragher, on punditry duty with Sky Sports, was not impressed, telling Odegaard to ‘get down the tunnel’ after feeling the celebrations were over the top.
Arteta himself was also targeted with criticism for his antics but said he was unaware of any backlash until being informed ahead of his press conference on Friday for Monday’s game against Crystal Palace.
‘I didn’t know until they told me today. So I didn’t know anything about it,’ the Arsenal boss said.
Arteta was jubilant after Arsenal’s third goal (Picture: Getty)
Pushed on Carragher comments, he added: ‘No, I love it. Because I have seen managers down on their knees inside the pitch, I have seen very big managers walking onto the pitch, going across the touchline.
‘I have seen all of that in the Premier League. And personally, I love it. It shows passion and emotion in the game when it is done in a natural way and in a unique way.
‘It’s great. It’s my opinion but a lot of people may have something very different to mine.’
On Odegaard’s celebrations, he added: ‘That is something they do every day here in the training ground.
‘But people are entitled to have their opinion when you do something publicly. They will have opinions, some positive, some not, but it is our job to accept them.’
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