Wayne Rooney, a revered figure in Manchester United’s history, has cautioned Manchester City regarding their post-match celebrations following a 2-1 triumph over Arsenal on Sunday.
The game, held at Etihad Stadium, saw both teams locked in a 1-1 draw at halftime. Manchester City initially took the lead with a goal from Rayan Cherki, only for Kai Havertz to quickly equalize after a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, City regained control in the second half, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 65th minute. Havertz missed a crucial opportunity to equalize late in the match.
This victory narrows the gap between City and league leaders Arsenal to three points. Pep Guardiola’s squad celebrated their win with unrestrained enthusiasm at the final whistle.
Rooney, speaking on Match of the Day on Sunday night, remarked, “The celebrations were somewhat excessive. City still faces six more games, and although this was a significant win, Arsenal must recover and refocus.”
He added, “Arsenal might feel relieved that this match is behind them. With five games remaining, if they clinch those victories, they stand a strong chance of securing the league title.”
City were unrestrained in their celebrations at the final whistle after their victory over Arsenal
City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma jumped into the crowd at the final whistle
United legend Rooney warned that City’s exuberant celebrations may ‘come back to bite them’
Match of the Day‘s host, Mark Chapman, queried the former United striker on whether Arsenal might channel City’s exuberant celebrations as motivation for their remaining five matches this season.
To which Rooney replied: ‘I just think it’s a little bit premature and it might come back to bite them.’
Rooney – who admitted he ‘does not want’ his old foes to win the league – said that Arsenal’s more favourable remaining few fixtures will work in their favour.
‘I think it will be tight,’ Rooney added. ‘I think they are good fixtures for Arsenal and they will win all of their games.
‘I think City’s fixtures are a little bit more difficult and I think Everton might take a couple of points off them.’
Rooney’s view is consistent with the stats gurus at Opta, who predict Arsenal still have a 69 per cent chance of winning the league despite defeat at the Etihad.
City’s chances, meanwhile, have risen to 31 per cent, reflecting the model’s view that their remaining fixtures are tougher than Arsenal’s.
Arsenal’s run-in sees them host Newcastle and Fulham before travelling to West Ham. Burnley then visit the Emirates, before they round off the season away at Crystal Palace.
City supporters unveiled a banner that read ‘Panic on the streets of London’, as the players did their customary lap of honour at full-time – a new initiative for this season
A City fan pretends to drink from an Arsenal bottle – a not-so-subtle jab at the idea that Mikel Arteta’s side are ‘bottling’ their first shot at a league title in 22 years
City, meanwhile, travel to Burnley later this week before a trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Everton on Monday, May 4. They then host Brentford, visit Bournemouth, and play Aston Villa at the Etihad on the final day of the season. They also have a game in hand against Crystal Palace still to play, with the date and time yet to be confirmed.
Arsenal will be desperate to put behind them the trauma of three successive runners-up finishes, two of them to City.
And Rooney insisted Mikel Arteta’s side have not lost sight of the title, though he has urged supporters to keep their nerve.
He added: ‘The (Arsenal) fans have got a big role to play.
‘In the last game against Bournemouth they were booing their players off the pitch. They’ve been top of the league all season.
‘I want Arsenal to win the league. I don’t want Man City to win the league.
‘The Arsenal fans need to get behind their team and the importance of that is massive.
‘The players will be nervous as well, they have got to show the players that they’re with them, give them their full support.’
Arsenal boss Arteta was in no mood to throw in the towel after yesterday’s defeat, insisting his side are now ‘even more convinced’ they can win the title despite having won just one of their last six games in all competitions.
He said: ‘Very upset with the result, obviously. We came here to win the game. I think the message was clear from three days before.
‘We prepared to do that, to take the game to the areas that we believe we could win it. We certainly did that. So we proved that we are there.
‘But the reality is (that) in the two boxes today was the difference and that’s what decided the game.
‘I believe today, I believe on Wednesday a week ago (we can win the title) because I see them (players) every day and I know the level that we have. But today if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced.
‘They were talking about it in the dressing room. It’s a new league now. They (Man City) have a game in hand. We have a three-point advantage and five games to play.
‘So everything is still to play for. We’re not going to stop and we’re going to go again, that’s for sure.’
