Rio Ferdinand has called out Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher for their comments in the aftermath of Arsenal’s 5-1 thumping of Manchester City. The Gunners thrashed their Premier League rivals at the Emirates Stadium at the start of the month.
Tempers flared throughout the match, with Arsenal defender Gabriel celebrating Martin Odegaard’s opener by shouting in the face of Erling Haaland.
Teenage left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly then mocked Haaland by copying the Norwegian’s trademark ‘zen’ celebration after firing in the Gunners’ third goal of the day.
After the clash, Neville told Sky Sports: “I want to mention Gabriel and what he did to Haaland. I actually don’t like it. I think it’s a bit disrespectful.”
And turning his attention to Lewis-Skelly, he also told the broadcaster: “He’s got a long way to go – don’t get carried away. There are lots of pitfalls out there.”
Carragher, meanwhile, gave his verdict on the goal celebration as he explained: “I didn’t like this because he’s a young player mimicking Haaland, taking the mick. I know what Haaland said but he’s a young player and we all get carried away as young players.”
During Arsenal’s showdown with City at the Etihad Stadium in September, Haaland courted controversy when he threw the ball into the back of Gabriel’s head after John Stones had bagged a stoppage-time equaliser for City.
And he then confronted Lewis-Skelly as the striker appeared to repeatedly mouth: “Who the f*** are you?”
Ferdinand addressed the incidents from both games on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. And he wasn’t happy with the reactions from Neville and Carragher.
“When Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel that time, no one said nothing,” explained the former England star. “Everyone was laughing. When Haaland said, ‘Who the f***ing h*** are you’ no one went, ‘That’s a disgrace, he’s talking to a young kid like that’.
“But all of a sudden the young kid’s come and said, ‘You know what, no I’ve got a bit of personality and I’m going to do that’, the zen moment. Everyone’s going, ‘Get back in your box’.
“No, let the kids come out and express themselves. Let anyone express themselves when you score a goal and there’s a moment in the game, because that’s what we pay to see.
“Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, the lot of you, whoever else. Gary Neville, when he was doing that with his badge when I scored at Old Trafford against Liverpool last minute. Gary Neville was running towards… He didn’t even come to me. He went to Liverpool fans.
“When I scored he didn’t come and celebrate with me. And he’s telling people to calm down. Tasteless, it’s a bit tasteless.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk