Wayne Rooney has taken aim at Arsenal's celebrations after they secured a place in the Champions League final, claiming the jubilant scenes at the Emirates were excessive. The Gunners defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the semi-final second leg on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka's first-half goal proving decisive.
Mikel Arteta's side will now travel to Budapest for the final, and players and fans alike erupted in joy at the final whistle. However, Rooney, a former Manchester United star, was unimpressed. Speaking on Prime Video Sport, he said: "They deserve to be in this position but they haven't won it yet. I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win!"
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger echoed similar sentiments. "Over the two legs, there is no doubt that Arsenal were the better team," Wenger told beIN Sport. "They celebrate well tonight – that is normal, but you want more for them to focus on the final already and the next game. The celebration is deserved, happiness is absolutely normal, but now the next step is to go to the final and win it."
Arsenal legend Ian Wright, however, urged fans to enjoy the moment. In a video on X, a jubilant Wright said: "Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this. The celebration police will be out in force, do not get nicked! Enjoy yourselves, football's about moments and this is a big moment. Enjoy it. And let's hope that in the final and after the final, we have another massive moment. It's a great day, it's a great day!"
Arsenal also remain in contention for the Premier League title, sitting five points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Arteta's side face West Ham on Sunday before matches against Burnley and Crystal Palace to conclude the season. In the Champions League final, they will meet either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, May 30. Arsenal's only previous appearance in the final came in 2006, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris.
