Arteta Hits Back at ‘Celebration Police’ After Arsenal Reach Champions League Final

Mikel Arteta has brushed aside criticism over Arsenal’s emotional celebrations after reaching the Champions League final, insisting the club has earned the right to enjoy a milestone moment after years of rebuilding.

Arsenal sealed their place in the final for the first time in 20 years with Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, progressing 2-1 on aggregate and setting up a showdown with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30.

The scenes at full-time reflected the significance of the occasion. Arteta danced on the pitch, players linked arms in front of supporters and the stadium erupted in celebration after another major step forward under the Spaniard.

Not everyone approved.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney suggested Arsenal’s reaction was “a little bit too much” given they have yet to lift the trophy, while former Arsenal striker Ian Wright joked that the “celebration police” would inevitably appear.

Arteta, though, appeared entirely unfazed by the debate when asked about it on Friday.

“First of all, I didn’t know about it,” he said. “I think you have to respect every opinion and place them where they belong. I place them where they belong.

“I’m assuming that criticism is positive and negative. That’s what makes you better.

“When you want to set higher standards and performance levels that can give you the chance to compete for the two most prestigious competitions in Europe, you have to be prepared for that because you know the challenge and the difficulty of it. It does make you better, that’s for certain.”

There was a sense from Arteta that Arsenal are refusing to apologise for believing again. For a club that spent years drifting away from Europe’s elite, Tuesday night felt less like a final destination and more like proof that the project is beginning to deliver on its promise.

The timing could hardly be more important.

Arsenal remain firmly in the Premier League title race and head to West Ham on Sunday knowing every match now carries enormous weight. Manchester City face Brentford on Saturday and could reduce the gap at the top to two points before Arsenal kick off at the London Stadium.

Arteta made it clear there is no danger of his side losing focus despite the noise surrounding their European run.

“Understanding the context of the game for both clubs, it’s huge, obviously,” he said.

“We know the process of it, we know what we want and what we have to do to win the game.

“[We need to] stay present, live the moment, prepare, and show the same level of energy, hunger and desire that we’ve shown all season, or more.

“Because we are closer and closer, and everything that we do now is going to matter to win it or not.”

Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino and Jurriën Timber for the trip across London, with both players still recovering from injury.

Even so, there is a growing feeling around the club that momentum is building at exactly the right moment. The Emirates has rediscovered its voice, Arteta has rediscovered belief within the squad and Arsenal are now fighting on two fronts with genuine conviction.

For now, at least, Arteta seems perfectly comfortable letting others debate how much joy his players are allowed to show.