Mikel Arteta dismissed Wayne Rooney's complaints about Arsenal's celebrations following their Champions League final qualification, laughing off the Manchester United legend's remarks during Friday's press conference. The Arsenal manager made clear he had little interest in outside opinions, suggesting Rooney's criticism belonged elsewhere.
Arsenal secured their return to European football's showpiece event after 20 years by defeating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. Arteta joined his players on the pitch at Emirates Stadium to celebrate the milestone with supporters, a moment he described as marking a major achievement for the club. However, Rooney, speaking as a pundit on Amazon Prime, questioned the intensity of the celebrations.
Rooney's Skepticism vs. Arteta's Response
"They deserve to be in this position, but they haven't won it yet," Rooney said. "The celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win." When questioned about the comments, Arteta responded with bemusement. "First of all, I didn't know about it," he said, before adding that opinions should be respected but noting where such criticism belonged. His diplomatic dismissal suggested the manager felt no need to engage with external doubts about Arsenal's achievement.
The Spaniard revealed he had received far warmer responses from his peers in management. Fellow managers, including Pep Guardiola, his former mentor at Manchester City, had sent congratulatory messages. "All of them have been in touch in a really beautiful way," Arteta explained, emphasizing the significance of those gestures from experienced coaches across the sport.
Focus Shifts to Premier League Title Race
With Arsenal leading the Premier League by five points over Manchester City ahead of three remaining fixtures, Arteta's immediate focus turns to domestic success. The Gunners face West Ham this weekend, followed by Burnley and Crystal Palace, with a potential title triumph looming. Arsenal's dual pursuit of silverware comes as they prepare for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, marking their first appearance in the competition's final since the 2005-06 season.
