Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions of Arsenal over-celebrating victories as ‘nonsense’ ahead of their Premier League clash on Sunday.
The Gunners head to the Etihad on Sunday to take on the defending champions in a match that will have huge ramifications on the title race, with just one point separating the two sides and Liverpool with 10 games of the season left.
Arsenal secured a huge win against their other title rivals with a 3-1 win over Liverpool in February at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta came under scrutiny after he wildly celebrated his side’s second goal by sprinting down the touchline that afternoon with Martin Odegaard also criticised after assuming club photography duties after the final whistle.
It was not the first occasion Arsenal have been accused of over-celebrating wins with Jamie Carragher among those to take aim at Odegaard and his side that day.
A famous win at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday could spark similar scenes but Guardiola insisted he has no issue with how his rivals choose to celebrate, taking a swipe at those who do.
‘I don’t react to it,’ Guardiola told a press conference on Friday when asked about Arsenal and over-celebrating.
‘I don’t react to nonsense things. If you want to take a picture, take a picture. What is the problem? Honestly.’
Odegaard has enjoyed another hugely influential season in north London with Guardiola lavishing praise on the Gunners captain ahead of Sunday’s game.
‘He is doing incredibly well,’ Guardiola said.
‘I think it helped a lot when he played at Real Sociedad, they helped a lot and made him confident to make this step.
‘At Arsenal, he became captain, is very consistent playing every single game and become a really important player.’
