This past weekend saw reigning champions Manchester United take on league-leaders Arsenal in a clash billed as the real acid-test for the Gunners. In what was a pretty drab affair, Robin van Persie headed home in exquisite style for what proved to be the winner. He then proceeded to run arms outstretched to Wayne Rooney and celebrated wildly, which caused the age old debate of whether or not to celebrate goals against former sides.
Now, with players moving clubs so frequently, there is a new element to the argument. Take Nicolas Anelka for example. Should he refuse to celebrate against all of his previous ten clubs if he were to score? But in response, would there be a wildly different view if Marouane Fellaini celebrated a goal against Everton?
The obvious reason for some difference in which players can celebrate and which cannot is probably more to do with how much of a career a player has gained from the former club. In this sense, many Arsenal fans could feel vindicated in their views that van Persie shouldn’t celebrate against them. He was turned from a prospect to the Premier League’s best striker at the club.
Another example in this situation is when Emmanuel Adebayor scored against Arsenal, a team who gambled on him and turned him into one of the top strikers in the league, albeit only for a year. His celebration went a little too far as he sprinted one-hundred yards to goad the Arsenal fans and it incited some questionable retaliation from said fans.
However, unless the team has had a big impact on a player’s career, there doesn’t seem to be much reason to not celebrate. Everyone enjoys the feisty side of football and the odd gloating celebration can turn the intensity up a notch. Crazy celebrations are just one reason why football is possibly the most entertaining sport in the world. Rather than moan about a player’s lack of respect for a former club, fans should look at it as adding to the fun factor of games.
Even when a player should show some respect for a former club, it adds to the excitement of them celebrating wildly. It could even be a more personal message from a player. Surely van Persie had a quick thought to Piers Morgan squirming in his armchair as the ball nestled in the back of the net.
On the other hand, when a player has not been abused by a former club and has spent a large chunk of their career there, it is almost 100% expected that they won’t celebrate. Imagine if Steven Gerrard did leave Liverpool for Chelsea as he almost did in Jose Mourinho’s first reign: not many people would expect him to celebrate, even years later, such is his respect for the Reds.
Time can sometimes be a factor though. The immediate year after a player has left is normally not the wisest time to celebrate against his former club, lest he actually wants to feel the wrath of its fans and become vilified. The argument that the common example in this article, van Persie, has been at United two years now is used by some to defend his choice to celebrate. It does seem a fair point, as it is not like there is a strong mutual respect between him and Gooners.
It is always nice to see players stay calm and acknowledge the support he got at his former club, but it is always a choice they can decide to make themselves. Realistically, players should be expected to celebrate against everyone, rather than the commonplace thinking that players shouldn’t celebrate against former clubs. Unless it was their childhood side, who are the fans to demand a muted jog back to the semi-circle? Even in cases of childhood teams, there may be underlying reasons for a player to celebrate, such as unceremonious departure circumstances or perhaps a lot of Twitter abuse from fans.
It is of course better nature to respect a former club. It is never going to get complaints and often receives some sort of gratitude from fans. However, if a player does celebrate, whether it is placidly or passionately, it only makes the game and the aftermath a more interesting and (usually) enjoyable spectacle. Although, that is only until it is against your own club.
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