Wayne Rooney criticised Arsenal’s celebrations after the Gunners reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years with victory over Atletico Madrid.
Bukayo Saka’s goal just before the break was enough to give Mikel Arteta’s men a 2-1 aggregate win and book their spot in the final in Budapest on May 30.
Arsenal players and staff ran onto the pitch after the full-time whistle, with Arteta joining his players in celebrating the moment with their supporters.
Fireworks were also let off inside the Emirates but Rooney claimed the Gunners had gone too far as they revelled in their triumph.
‘They deserve to be in this position but they haven’t won it yet,’ Rooney said on Prime Video Sport.
‘I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win!’
Wayne Rooney claimed Arsenal’s celebrations after reaching the Champions League final were a ‘bit too much’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright did not directly reference Rooney but told Gunners fans to enjoy the moment.
‘Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this,’ a delighted Wright said in a video on X, posted shortly after Rooney’s comments in their post-match analysis.
‘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!’
Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: ‘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.’
Arteta’s side will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League showpiece in the Hungarian capital.
Defending champions PSG lead 5-4 going into Wednesday’s second leg at the Allianz Arena after an extraordinary game between the two sides last week.
Arsenal’s last appearance in the Champions League final came in 2006, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris.
They are also chasing a first Premier League title in 22 years and sit five points clear of Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s team drew 3-3 at Everton on Monday.
