Arsenal are singing when they’re winning… they’ve made a rod for their own back when they next lose! Chris Sutton claims over-the-top celebrations will only cause Mikel Arteta and his Gunners problems down the line

Chris Sutton says over-the-top celebrations are causing Premier League clubs problems and insists players should be saving their lap of honour for when they win a trophy. 

Sutton discussed the impact of post-match celebrations on the latest episode of It’s All Kicking Off, pointing to Arsenal’s jubilant reaction to their victory over Liverpool on Sunday.  

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard all got on the scoresheet to help the Gunners win 3-1 and close the gap on Liverpool and Man City at the top of the Premier League table.

Arteta was overcome with emotion at the final whistle – appearing to mimic Jurgen Klopp’s three-punch salute to home fans –  while Martin Odegaard proceeded to have some fun with the club photographer at the end of the game – taking pictures of him celebrating at the Emirates. 

Sutton accepted you can’t criticise Arsenal fans for basking in the glory of victory over such a fierce rival but said the ‘carnival’ at the end of the game is problematic for the Premier League side.

Martin Odegaard proceeded to have some fun with the club photographer at the end of the game, taking pictures of him celebrating at the Emirates

Ian Ladyman agreed with Sutton, saying ‘the whole thing around Premier League football games has become more performative.’ 

Speaking on the latest episode of It’s All Kicking Off, Sutton said: ‘Players have all these celebrations when they win and hold hands and dance and dive in front of the fans and clap the fan bases when they win. They cause themselves a problem when they lose. But when did this come in? Why? 

‘I don’t want to sound like a dinosaur here, but what was the problem when I played? You just clapped the fans in the middle of the pitch, showed that you were thanking them for traveling, acknowledging them. You know, you win, you’re happy, and then you get yourself into the dressing room. 

‘But this has become a thing, and I remember a thing with the Milan players. I don’t know whether sinister is the right word, but they had to go over and speak to the ultras and apologise. I mean, really?

‘I don’t understand when we got to this, why we’ve got to this. 

‘Palace fans for example, they have a massive grievance with what’s going on behind the scenes, and there’s a really bad atmosphere at this moment in time. But I don’t see why players should have to bear the brunt of that.

‘You know, if it is a game where you end up losing, but it’s honest toil and sweat, you shouldn’t have to go over. It’s like the old stocks, isn’t it? 

Chris Sutton believes Arsenal have made a rod for their own backs with their celebrations

Sutton said you can’t criticise Arsenal fans for being emotional but said the ‘carnival’ at the end of the game is problematic for the Premier League side 

However, Sutton did say you can’t criticise Arsenal fans for being emotional over the result

‘You’re going over to get that abuse at the end. Is that what we’re going to come to? Where you build a platform where you have you have a podium at the end of the game when you when you win, you go over and take all the praise. And then you have the stocks. Is that pillory? 

‘That is literally what, that’s what we’re coming to at the end of games now. It’s either triumph or disaster, it’s jubilation or humiliation isn’t it? I don’t like it. 

‘I really don’t like it, but I do think that clubs have made a rod for their own back because they love it. It’s singing when you’re winning, isn’t it?’

Ian Ladyman agreed with Sutton, saying: ‘I mean, look, the whole thing around Premier League football games has become more performative.

‘Arsenal did do a lap of honour yesterday. They did do a lap of honour.’