Arsenal fans are speaking out after Jamie Carragher’s recent comments about the club’s rising stars, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
The Sky Sports pundit had criticized the way Lewis-Skelly celebrated after scoring in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Manchester City.
The young midfielder, following in the footsteps of Erling Haaland, mimicked the Norwegian’s celebration, which some fans interpreted as a playful dig at Haaland, who had previously mocked Lewis-Skelly earlier in the season.
Carragher’s Criticism of the Celebration
Carragher expressed his disappointment with the teenager’s celebration, noting that while it’s understandable for young players to get carried away, it crossed a line.
“I loved the idea of having football arrogance on the pitch, but I didn’t like this,” Carragher said.
“He’s a young player, and we all get carried away, but mimicking Haaland felt like taking the mick.”
His comments sparked debate, especially as he acknowledged that this was a huge moment for the teenager.
Arteta’s Efforts to Keep Young Players Grounded
On the Overlap Fan Debate, Carragher went on to suggest that Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, has been doing his best to keep Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri grounded.
He pointed out a moment during the match when Declan Rice appeared to tell Lewis-Skelly to calm down.
Carragher elaborated, “I don’t think it’s a big deal, but it’s a subtle reminder to be careful.”
He also recalled Arteta’s previous comments about the two teenagers not changing with the first-team squad.
According to Carragher, this was part of Arteta’s effort to keep the young players focused and humble.
“Even your own manager wants to keep you down when you’ve played a few games for the first team,” Carragher added.
“It’s all about staying grounded and knowing your place.”
The pundit also suggested that the celebration was likely a moment Lewis-Skelly would remember fondly, potentially signing autographs for fans in the future.
Arsenal Fans Respond with Fury
However, Carragher’s comments didn’t sit well with many Arsenal supporters. Fans were quick to point out that Nwaneri’s separation from the first team squad is not due to Arteta trying to “keep him in his place,” but rather because of safeguarding regulations.
According to these rules, players under the age of 18 are not allowed to change with senior squad members.
This is why Nwaneri, who is 17, must change in a separate area before joining the team for the final pre-match talk.
The Accusations of an Agenda
Arsenal fans took to social media to accuse Carragher of lacking proper knowledge of the situation.
One fan wrote, “Mikel Arteta said Ethan Nwaneri can’t change with the first team because of safeguarding laws, not because he’s trying to keep him down.
Jamie Carragher clearly didn’t fact-check.”
Another supporter echoed these sentiments, calling out Carragher for spreading misinformation despite having access to all the necessary resources.
The backlash continued with fans expressing their frustration with the pundit.
“Losing a lot of respect for Carra as each day passes,” one fan said, while another asked, “Are you going to correct the record, or should we just ignore every mistake you make?”
Arteta’s Support for His Young Stars
In contrast to Carragher’s criticism, Arteta has been vocal in his support of both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.
He has pointed out how their transitions to the first team have been eased by his friendship with Lewis-Skelly, helping the young talent adjust to the demands of senior football.
Fans are hoping that the media will focus more on the positive aspects of the teenagers’ development, rather than nitpicking their celebrations and youthful enthusiasm.
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