06 February 2024 , 11:47
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Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has labelled Jamie Carragher 'bitter' after the pundit criticised Arsenal's celebrations following their win over Liverpool.
Carragher was unimpressed to see Martin Odegaard take a picture of a club photographer in the aftermath of the Gunners' 3-1 win at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta's side gave up a lead through some poor defending and an own goal from Gabriel but managed to secure three points via goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal received criticism from the likes of Gary Neville and Richard Keys in addition to Carragher. The former Liverpool defender took most umbrage with Odegaard's actions, however.
He said: "Just get down the tunnel, you've won a game, it's three points. You've been brilliant, you're back in the title race. Get down the tunnel."
Parlour hit back at the 46-year-old and recognised the size of Arsenal's win. The former north London star believes the Gunners had more riding on the game and that the supporters helped them over the line, adding to the emotion
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He told : “I love Jamie, but he’s being a little bit bitter because Liverpool lost. Of course you have to enjoy those moments, you get into the hype with the fans. The supporters would have been buzzing knowing they beat Liverpool, who are going very well at the moment and are top of the league.
“Carragher’s a Liverpool legend and will naturally be gutted about the result, but I actually think there was a lot more at stake for Arsenal. If Arsenal lost that game on Sunday, they're out of the title race, so that’s why there was so much emotion at full time. The fans really played their part yesterday as well – they got right behind the team and emotions sometimes just go away from you, but you’ve got to celebrate these moments.
Martin Odegaard celebrated with the Arsenal photographer following the Gunners' win over Liverpool (Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)“I therefore think it was more relief, really. People are saying ‘they think they've won the league already’ – no, they’ve not won the league. You've got Manchester City, and they are still the ones to beat for me, but you've got to enjoy the moment. I celebrated into the early hours of the morning!”
Gary Neville also saw the victory as a moment of relief for Arsenal but labelled the celebrations 'immature' in his assessment. The ex-Manchester United ace does not think Arsenal believe they can win the title.
"I think those celebrations weren’t of a team that can win a title, they’re of a team that thought they’d be out of the title race," he said.
"That was the relief we saw at the end - I think Arsenal were a better team tonight but I actually think Liverpool are a lot more ruthless than this Arsenal side, they’re more ruthless in the final third and that could cost them in the end."