- Carragher discussed Arsenal star Lewis-Skelly’s celebration against Man City
- The pundit suggested Mikel Arteta has tried to keep his teenagers grounded
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is there an agenda against Ange Postecoglou?
Arsenal fans have hit back at Jamie Carragher after the pundit suggested Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has attempted to make sure their wonderkids Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri do not get too carried away.
The Sky Sports pundit last week revealed he was not too impressed by Lewis-Skelly’s celebrations after scoring in the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Man City.
Lewis-Skelly copied Erling Haaland‘s celebration after scoring, with many suggesting he was attempting to mock the Norwegian after he previously taunted the Arsenal teenager in their clash earlier in the season.
‘I said about have football arrogance on the pitch and I loved it. I didn’t like this because he’s a young player mimicking Haaland, taking the mick,’ Carragher said.
‘I know what Haaland said but he’s a young player and we all get carried away as young players. It’s a huge moment for him’.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Carragher suggested Arteta has attempted to keep Lewis-Skelly and fellow teenage star Nwaneri’s feet on the ground by having the pair change away from the first team.
‘We did the analysis [of the celebration] and you see Declan Rice saying to him “get back”, I don’t think it is a big thing, but I do think it is a bit like “be careful”,’ Carragher began.
‘Don’t forget there was an interview and Arteta was talking about the fact the two young kids Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly don’t actually get changed with the first team players.
‘We have all been there when you play a few games for the first team, but even your own manager is trying to keep you [down] and don’t let you get too carried away.
‘That’s the point about it, even Arteta as a manager and probably a coaching staff are like “don’t let these lads get carried away, they aren’t even going to be changing with the first team, stay where you are and know your place a little bit”.
‘I think it is just the thing of when you are a young kid, I think it will be a picture he will be signing for a long time, he will make a few quid out of it.’
Arsenal fans have been quick to hit back at the former Liverpool defender on social media.
Supporters pointed out that Nwaneri is currently unable to change with the first team squad due to safeguarding rules.
Safeguarding rules mean that players must be 18 or older to share a dressing room with the senior squad. It means that the starlet must get changed elsewhere before joining his colleagues for the final team talk.
Arteta had highlighted his friendship with Lewis-Skelly has helped ease his transition into the first team.
One Arsenal fan accused Carragher of having an ‘agenda’ following his comments.
‘Mikel Arteta said Ethan Nwaneri isn’t allowed to change with the Arsenal first team yet because [of] age,’ the fan said. ‘That is because of safeguarding laws; he’s 17. With zero fact checking, we now have Jamie Carragher spinning another agenda about keeping players in their place. B****cks.’
‘Carragher has access to every resource imaginable to avoid being so uniformed that you get something this wrong,’ another wrote.
‘Losing a lot of respect for Carra as each day passes,’ added a third.
‘@Carra23 are you going to correct the record or do we just have to take every fabrication with a pinch of salt,’ a fourth wrote.
