Mikel Arteta urges players to 'respect' opponents after Saka copies Maddison

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to respect their opponents after Bukayo Saka copied James Maddison’s celebration.

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Saka mocked Maddison by performing his trademark goal celebration after putting the Gunners ahead in Sunday’s north London derby, which ended 2-2.

Maddison provided assists for Son Heung-min’s two goals as Spurs left the Emirates with a point and the English midfielder teased Saka after the match.

‘Me and Bukayo had a bit of banter and a bit of trash talking on international duty,’ Maddison said.

‘I got told he did my celebration. He must have still been doing it after I turned him for the first [Spurs] goal. I’ll have a little word with him.’

Arteta insists he has no problem with Saka’s actions but has reminded his players to be ‘respectful’ towards opponents.

‘I don’t pay too much attention to that,’ Arteta said when asked about Saka copying Maddison’s celebration.

‘They are free, when they do it for a reason and I’m probably the last one to understand it because they just talk about it in the dressing room between them.

‘They’re free to do what they want as long as it’s respectful to the opponent and not putting someone down or doing something that doesn’t go with our values.’

Arsenal return to action on Wednesday when they take on Brentford in the Carabao Cup and face AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

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