Arsene Wenger defended Arsenal’s ‘absolutely normal’ celebrations after their Champions League semi-final win over Atletico Madrid but urged the players to quickly ‘focus’ on tasks ahead.
Arsenal beat Atletico 2-1 on aggregate to succeed in their first Champions League final since 2006.
The primary leg in Madrid finished 1-1 and Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal on the Emirates Stadium to send Arsenal into the ultimate, which shall be held on May 30 in Budapest.
The complete-time whistle sparked jubilant scenes contained in the Emirates, with the Arsenal squad continuing to rejoice for a while in front of their delighted supporters.
Some rival fans were quick to query the celebrations and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney even suggested they were barely excessive.
Reacting to the scenes on the Emirates Stadium, Rooney – a Champions League winner with United in 2008 – told Prime Video: ‘They haven’t won it yet.
‘I feel the celebrations are just a little bit too heavy. Have a good time whenever you win…but no, they deserve it.’
But legendary Arsenal manager Wenger described the celebrations as ‘absolutely normal’ and was pleased to see the players and fans express their delight.
Nevertheless, he reminded the squad that ‘the subsequent step’ for them is to win their first Champions League ahead of a final against either PSG or Bayern Munich.
‘I feel Arsenal wanted wanted it a bit greater than Atleti and so they were more decisive within the duals,’ Wenger said on beIN SPORTS.
‘We said before the sport that to go to the final they needed to be strong defensively and so they didn’t concede a goal tonight.
‘They played a team who for 45 minutes absolutely needed to attain a goal and so they didn’t give them a probability.
‘I consider it shows how strong Arsenal are defensively and the way disciplined they’re, as well a bit the constraints of Atletico, who weren’t ok in the ultimate third.
‘In the long run it’s a well-deserved win for Arsenal, there’s little question they were the higher team over the 2 legs.
‘They rejoice well tonight which is normal but you should focus already on the ultimate and the subsequent games.
‘The celebration is deserved and happiness is normal – absolutely normal – but the subsequent step is to go to the ultimate and win in.’
After becoming the primary Arsenal manager since Wenger to succeed in a Champions League final, Mikel Arteta said: ‘It’s an incredible night to live this type of moment with the players and everybody on the club, it’s an incredible feeling.
‘It is smart with all the things we do and we undergo and I see so many joyful faces and happy with what we’re doing.
‘It was unbelievable right from the start – the supporters waiting for us outside the stadium, the energy and keenness that they put in so it was just great to win this.
‘They set the standards and we’ve tried to meet up with them. We struggled so a few years to provide that joy back and the pride of their eyes was beautiful to look at.’
Before focussing on the Champions League final Arsenal will look to clinch their first Premier League title in 22 years.
The Gunners boast a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City ahead of their next game, a visit to London rivals West Ham on Sunday.
Man City did not close the gap to simply three points on Monday night as they were held to an exciting 3-3 draw by Everton.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Alan Shearer singles out ‘exceptional’ Arsenal star after Atletico Madrid win
MORE: Peter Schmeichel urges Manchester United to sign £17m former Arsenal star
MORE: Alan Shearer makes Arsenal title claim after Manchester City slip-up