Fans are all saying the same thing after Mikel Arteta was booked celebrating Arsenal’s winner against Luton on Tuesday evening.
Declan Rice netted a last-gasp header against Luton to see Arsenal snatch a thrilling 4-3 victory at Kenilworth Road and claim a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners looked set to squander the opportunity to extend their lead at the Premier League summit, only for Rice to nod in a header 23 seconds into the seventh minute of a minimum of six additional minutes.
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The goal sparked dramatic celebrations among the Arsenal fans, management and players, with Arteta charging down the touchline and stepping onto the pitch before celebrating with his staff on Tuesday night.
The Spaniard was subsequently shown a yellow card for his troubles, his third booking of the season, meaning he will not be on the touchline for Saturday’s game at Aston Villa.
Gooners were furious on social media, noting that Erling Haaland received no card for his furious protest of a decision in Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Tottenham.
On X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, one person said: “Juxtaposing Mikel Arteta's yellow for stepping outside the technical area while celebrating an extra time goal with Erling Haaland not being punished for getting the face of, bumping into, and screaming at a referee highlights the absurd priorities established by the PL and PGMOL.”
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Another said: “It's as well they are clamping down on these last-minute winner celebrations in extra extra extra added on time and booking Arteta and not Haaland for his reaction.”
A third wrote: “Arteta gets a booking for celebrating a 97th minute winner but Haaland can scream and shout at the ref and get nothing. Absolute joke what City can get away with.”
While fans were furious, Arteta did not regret his celebrations after the game. Speaking to the media, the Spaniard said: “I really enjoyed it, especially the end.
“It's the incredible thing about football, emotions and the moments that you live together. It was a special night.
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“Credit to Luton for the incredible atmosphere that they created and the way they played. They made life really difficult for us. But we found a way to win. The resilience and the the character and the quality showed.
“Playing every three days, and we have to win every game, the demands are there. It's the way (the players) go about it, how much they want it.
“Today we conceded some goals we'll be disappointed with. That's part of it as well, it's going to happen. It's how we react to that.”
Topics: Erling Haaland, Arsenal, Luton Town, Mikel Arteta, Football, Fan Reactions
Chris Byfield