Mikel Arteta Urges Players to Respect Opponents After Bukayo Saka Copies James Maddison’s Celebration
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to respect their opponents after Bukayo Saka copied James Maddison’s trademark goal celebration. Saka mocked Maddison by performing his trademark goal celebration after putting the Gunners ahead in Sunday’s north London derby, which ended 2-2.
Maddison provided assists for Son Heung-min’s two goals as Spurs left the Emirates with a point and the English midfielder teased Saka after the match.
‘Me and Bukayo had a bit of banter and a bit of trash talking on international duty,’ Maddison said. ‘I got told he did my celebration. He must have still been doing it after I turned him for the first [Spurs] goal. I’ll have a little word with him.’
Arteta insists he has no problem with Saka’s actions but has reminded his players to be ‘respectful’ towards opponents.
‘I don’t pay too much attention to that,’ Arteta said when asked about Saka copying Maddison’s celebration. ‘They are free, when they do it for a reason and I’m probably the last one to understand it because they just talk about it in the dressing room between them.
‘They’re free to do what they want as long as it’s respectful to the opponent and not putting someone down or doing something that doesn’t go with our values.’
Arsenal return to action on Wednesday when they take on Brentford in the Carabao Cup and face AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Respect in Football
The debate around respect in football has been ongoing for years, with many players and managers feeling that there is a lack of respect between players and teams. This is especially true in the Premier League, where teams are often competing for points and bragging rights.
The incident between Saka and Maddison is a prime example of this lack of respect, and Arteta’s comments show that he is keen for his players to show respect towards their opponents. It is important for players to remember that while football is a competitive sport, it should also be played with respect and sportsmanship.
The FA has also been vocal about its stance on respect in football, introducing new rules and regulations in recent years to ensure that players, coaches, and fans all show respect towards each other. This includes punishments for players who are found to be disrespectful or abusive towards their opponents.
Conclusion
It is clear that Mikel Arteta is keen for his players to show respect towards their opponents, and his comments about Saka’s celebration are a reminder of this. Football is a competitive sport, but it should also be played with respect and sportsmanship. The FA has introduced new rules and regulations to ensure that players, coaches, and fans all show respect towards each other, and this is something that all footballers should keep in mind.