Gabby Agbonlahor Exposed After Calling Out Arsenal For 'Celebrating Like They'd Won The Champions League' vs Villa

Gabby Agbonlahor has been called out for slamming Arsenal's celebrations following their 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Bukayo Saka's goal in the first half earned Mikel Arteta's side a vital three points in their battle for the top four.

Goalkeeper Bernd Leno denied Philippe Coutinho right at the death and his teammates celebrated by swarming around him.

Gabriel collapsed to his knees in joy as the squad clapped the away end at Villa Park. Safe to say, it rubbed former Villa striker Agbonlahor the wrong way.

He told talkSPORT: "The way they celebrated at the end of the game, it was like they’d won the Champions League, not qualified for it.

"I know it was a great result but the scenes and the players… we were right behind the fans. It was like they’d won the league, not beaten Aston Villa, a team that they should be beating. 

"I think they overdid the celebrations."

It echoed the sentiments of Villa full-back and former teammate Ashley Young, who also disapproved of the wild scenes at full-time.

What then emerged were comments Agbonlahor made late last year, after Steven Gerrard's first game as Villa manager.

Gerrard led his side to a 2-0 win over Brighton in November and it was at a time relegation seemed a real possibility.

It was a huge result and Agbonlahor beamed, yet again on talkSPORT: "His celebration for the goal, it was like he’d won a cup final! That’s what fans want to see and I think he’s going to do a great job for Aston Villa."

An interesting change of mindset within four months.

The Gunners haven't played Champions League football since 2017 and reaching Europe's elite competition once again is their main goal.

Young said they celebrated like they'd won the league and he isn't the first opposition player to make that remark after a loss.

Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves attacked Arsenal after their game at Molineux in January and said: "I didn't see Arsenal celebrating like this in the past 10 years - it was like they won the league."

In the reverse fixture a month later, Arsenal won again and Aaron Ramsdale made sure to celebrate right in Neves' face.

Arsenal are currently fourth in the league and have a game in hand on the chasing pack.