08 May 2026 11:09:47
Celebration police are out again, naughty naughty Gooners.
Go f*** yourself that's my answer to the Celebration police.
09 May 2026 09:59:37
It was a bit over the top, if you are honest - we won nothing but celebrated like we won the World Cup. That's not a winning mentality club, but I loved how happy everyone was.
09 May 2026 16:29:26
PSG were equally as happy the following night.. Just saying. ?
09 May 2026 18:33:08
I've heard, should we win either trophy, the actual trophy will be in the centre circle on a plinth, and we can file in, nod, pay our respects, and file out. No noise at all, bit like a royal funeral, just watch out for Schofield jumping the queue.
Players will be at home with facts and figures on how we are going to win it next year! Except Benny White, of course, he doesn't do that. ?? COYG.
09 May 2026 19:13:37
SY, I kind of get what you mean, but I think that's more than a bit harsh. A winning mentality doesn't mean refusing to celebrate anything until there's a trophy in your hands. It's important to recognise big moments. Recognising them helps to build belief.
Winning a semi-final is far from "winning nothing"! It's basically earning the right to play for something.
Whatever happens from here, in this instance of the competition, we have one of the two best teams in the tournament. These moments should matter to players and fans. If we can enjoy the successful steps along the way, then what's the point of chasing success at all?
09 May 2026 19:30:55
Cannot see any harm in it.
Not as bad as Wenger sending the players out to a lap of honour after scrapping 4th spot and finishing 20 odd points behind the winners.
09 May 2026 19:47:46
? Sharpie, mate, totally agree with you.
09 May 2026 23:27:55
Fireworks etc? Seriously?
Like I say, I love how excited we were, but it was ott - did Bolt celebrate qualifying for finals? Or Sampras, or M Johnson, or Djokovic, or Federer?
Show some joy, excitement and bonding, but let's wait till we actually win something.
That's when you celebrate like you won something.
Maybe a bit harsh, Sharpe, but that celebration was like we had won the competition. We deserve to be there and don't act like getting to the final is as big as winning it.
10 May 2026 08:45:24
How do you quantify "as big as winning it" though, mate? They celebrated! How much or how little is a ridiculous thing to try and quantify. Trying to dictate their emotions and how they felt about that particular win is nonsense.
I also don't think the comparisons with Bolt, Sampras, Johnson, Djokovic or Federer really work. Those are individual sports with very different cultures, and, historically, the celebrations are much more controlled. Football is different. Every important win is celebrated, often wildly. Teams celebrate derbies, last minute winners, staying up, reaching finals, winning playoffs, qualifying for Europe. That's one of the things that makes football the greatest sport on the planet.
Getting to a final isn't the same as winning it, obviously.
But it's nevertheless a massive achievement. An achievement that only two sides can accomplish in any given year of the tournament. Then consider that we haven't seen this end of the tournament as a club for 20 years, and it makes it more of an achievement. Don't diminish that.
I'm all for criticising things that actually matter. Performance levels, mentality in games, recruitment, game management. And we've had ample of those to moan about; and we have. Rightly so. But how much joy the players and fans are allowed to show after winning a semi-final feels like a very strange thing to police.
Celebrate the step, then refocus for the destination. It's ok to do both.