Former Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu has criticised Arsenal’s players for ignoring club legends Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Petit in the tunnel after their victory over Chelsea.
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to restore their five-point lead at the top of the table.
Following the final whistle, Ljungberg and Petit stood by the side of the red-lit tunnel as both sets of players made their way inside.
Despite the pair winning three Premier League titles between them during their time in north London – with Ljungberg part of the ‘Invincibles’ side that lifted the trophy in 2003-04 – only Declan Rice stopped to greet them as his team-mates walked past.
Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze among others all walked past without acknowledgement. Rice, however, stopped to shake their hands, share a brief embrace and exchange a few words before continuing on his way.
Robson-Kanu criticised the Arsenal squad after the match for their ignoring of the duo after the game, posting on social media: ’20 years in football teaches you a lot about the unwritten rules of the game… And one of them is how you treat the people who came before you.
Only Declan Rice stoppped in the tunnel to greet the two Arsenal club legends Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Petit after the Chelsea victory on Sunday
‘I came across this footage of players and staff leaving through the tunnel after Arsenal’s win over Chelsea. Standing there were Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Petit – two Arsenal legends who won the lot and helped shape one of the club’s greatest eras
‘And almost nobody acknowledges them. Not after a win, not on their own patch, nothing. But Declan Rice was the one exception, and honestly, it was great to see.
‘The way he took a moment to acknowledge two men who helped build that club says a lot about his character!!!
‘Football has a short memory, and I get that. But the culture lives in the small moments just as much as the big ones.
‘It costs absolutely nothing – a nod, a handshake, two seconds of your time. Dec gets it, and hopefully others take note’.
This latest suggestion of entitlement by Premier League players comes two weeks after the Chelsea squad were branded ‘arrogant’ after blanking a group of young mascots before their FA Cup tie against Hull City.
The Championship side had lined up the excited youngsters near the away dressing room before kick-off at the MKM Stadium on Friday.
Reece James led the Chelsea team in blanking the Hull City mascots at the MKM Stadium
Liam Delap hugged a member of Hull City staff but also failed to acknowledge the youngsters
But in footage posted by the official club account, the Chelsea stars – led by captain Reece James – could be seen walking straight past the children.
The boys had waited patiently alongside Hull staff as the Premier League squad arrived off the team bus, but were ignored by every player in the 31-second clip.
GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry wrote on X: ‘You should be ashamed your players act like this with these little boys. Instead, you’re proud and desperate to share it. Gross.’
Another said: ‘Chelsea admin watched this video and thought it was a great idea! In reality again they look like a bunch of entitled divas.’
