Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Pundits round on ‘irritating’ Mikel Arteta and claim Arsenal ‘over-celebrated’ narrow Fulham win

Gabriel celebrates Arsenal winner against Fulham

Presenter Richard Keys has accused Arsenal’s players of ‘over-celebrating’ their 2-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday and revealed that he finds Gunners boss Mikel Arteta ‘irritating’.

The Premier League leaders had to come from behind to beat the Cottagers after Aleksandar Mitrovic had given the visitors a shock lead against a dominant Gunners side at The Emirates.

Martin Odegaard equalised before Gabriel scored a late winner to extend Arsenal’s perfect start to the campaign.

Arteta and the players were clearly jubilant after the final whistle, but beIN SPORTS presenter Keys took exception to the Gunners’ celebrations.

“It’s Fulham, and they trailed for one time,” Keys said on beIN SPORTS.

“Yeah, well played, you came back to win it and they keep their 100 per cent record intact.

“But they haven’t won the title tonight. They’ve won a London derby. Let’s not get too carried away. We’re four games into the season.”

Keys’ regular partner Andy Gray then replied: “I don’t think the players will. I don’t think Arteta will. I get the fans getting over-excited.

“Listen, if you want me to be blunt about Arsenal, I like what I see, right? But they’ve beaten Palace, Leicester, Bournemouth and Fulham. It’s not a who’s who of big teams.

“I said to you at halftime, that’s something they’ll have to do [learn how to win ugly]. When things are not great, they’ll get a bit of luck, that first goal from Odegaard, there was a deflection otherwise they don’t score. We saw Bernardo Silva do the same for Man City [against Crystal Palace] and they go on and win it.

“This is over hype. It’s Fulham. This is a league game. If this was the semi-final of the cup somewhere and you’d won, then I get that. Maybe this is what he [Arteta] wants to instil here, I don’t know. I would say it’s dangerous because you’re going to have plenty of downs, that’s for sure.”

Keys clearly not an Arteta fan

Keys then took aim at Arteta following Arsenal’s win and is clearly not a fan of the Spaniard.

“I can’t hide the fact I find him [Arteta] extremely irritating,” Keys said.

“Waving his arms around like a windmill for 90 minutes, as if anyone can hear him, let alone see him. And he’s never in his technical area.

“They’ve over-celebrated this – it’s a 2-1 win against newly promoted Fulham.”

The Gunners are back at The Emirates on Wednesday evening when they take on Aston Villa.

Victory will see them go five wins from five ahead of a tricky trick to a rejuvenated Manchester United on Sunday.

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