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ARSENAL skipper Martin Odegaard has hit back at the Sky Sports pundits for their criticism over Mikel Arteta’s side’s post-match scenes, asking: When can we celebrate?
Meanwhile, Jorginho believes Arsenal do have the maturity to handle this title race.
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RexGoals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard downed 10-man Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday, cutting their lead at the top of the Prem to just two points.
At full-time, Arteta revved up the Emirates crowd with Jurgen Klopp-esque fist pumps while Odegaard used a camera to take pictures of club photographer Stuart Macfarlane.
Ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher commented: “Just get down the tunnel. You’ve won a game. It’s three points. They’re back in the title race, get down the tunnel. I’m serious, honestly.”
Manchester United legend Gary Neville later added: “The celebrations at the end were not of a team that thought they were going to go on and win the title.
“They were of a team that didn’t want to be out of the title race. It felt like relief they weren’t eight points behind.
“I have gone past the idea of having a go at players for celebrating, I just still think there is a little bit of immaturity in their celebrations.”
But Odegaard responded: “Everyone who loves football, who understands football, they know how much it means to win this game.
“And if you’re not allowed to celebrate when you win a game, when are you allowed to celebrate? We’re happy with the win and we’ll stay humble.
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“We keep working hard and we prepare for the next one but of course you have to be happy when you win.”
On his moment with Macfarlane – who has been working for Arsenal since 1991 – Odegaard added: “He’s such a big Arsenal fan, such a big heart for the club, he’s been here so long.
“I thought it was a nice moment for him to get a good memory as well.”
Saka put Arsenal ahead against Liverpool in the 14th minute before the visitors nicked an equaliser just before the break thanks to Gabriel’s bizarre own goal.
Martinelli then pounced on a calamitous mix-up between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk just after the hour mark and Trossard put the nail in the coffin moments after Ibrahima Konate was sent off for a second yellow card in the 88th minute.
It is a result that puts the North Londoners back in the hunt for the title having blown an eight-point lead at the top last season to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
City can go to the Prem summit – three points clear of Arsenal – if they win both their games in hand, starting with Brentford tonight.
But midfielder Jorginho, who played a full 90 minutes in the league for only the second time this campaign, says this squad’s psychology in big games has changed since last year.
AFPThe Italian midfielder – who is out of contract in the summer – said: “It has been a few games to be honest that I feel like our team is getting more mature.
“Not just with scoring goals but the way we play, understanding the game, when to play short, when to go long, these kinds of situations. The team is getting really mature.
“To win the League, you can’t lose points against the other teams. So, I think we need this maturity to try and not lose those points in other games.”
Odegaard added: “It would have been a tough one for us to lose today.
“It was a massive game. It could have been eight points [if we’d lost] and it would look a lot more difficult then but we showed up, the fans were unbelievable. We did this together.
“We have to show that we learned something [from last year]. It was a crucial win but it’s a long way to go. We’ll stay humble, keep working hard, that’s what we have to focus on.”
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