Ian Wright was accused of going ‘full Salt Bae’ as he got involved in Arsenal’s on-pitch Premier League title celebrations.
Former Arsenal striker Wright is hugely popular among the current playing squad and staff.
As he fulfilled his punditry duties with Sky Sports as players celebrated behind him, Gabriel Martinelli made a beeline for the 62-year-old before putting a medal around his neck.
‘He’s gone full Salt Bae!’ Jamie Redknapp, also working for Sky, joked.
‘Does he know he’s working right now?’ Micah Richards chimed in. ‘Uncontrollable Ian!’
Ian Wright (middle) found himself in the thick of Arsenal’s Premier League title celebrations
Redknapp was referencing the incident four years ago when influencer chef ‘Salt Bae’ celebrated on the pitch with Argentina’s players when they won the FIFA World Cup.
Salt Bae, real name Nusret Gökçe, was seen kissing and holding the trophy, before pretending to sprinkle salt on it as he interrupted celebrations. FIFA would go on to launch an investigation.
But while there was irritation at the Turkish chef’s behaviour that day in 2022, Arsenal players were eager to make sure Wright, one of their biggest, if not the biggest, supporter in the media was involved.
‘Arsenal fans have been getting dragged for four years until Man City drew with Bournemouth,’ Wright said.
‘People have been drinking our tears or whatever they have been doing. There’s been banter and bottlers and everything like that.
‘It’s the same with the manager and everything they called him. All his gimmicks, the pickpockets and North London Forever. All of it has worked because it has got us over the line.
‘Everything stops now. Everyone just has to hold it now.’
Wright had the Premier League winners’ medal around his neck and also posed for photos, before being embraced by players, staff and onlookers on a day of jubilation for everyone associated with Arsenal at Selhurst Park.
As he soaked everything in, Wright boldly claimed that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is on the cusp of going down as the club’s greatest ever manager, surpassing Invincibles coach Arsene Wenger.
Wright gave a big hug to Gabriel Martinelli as fellow pundits poked fun at his behaviour
Jamie Redknapp likened Wright’s behaviour to famous chef Salt Bae at the 2022 World Cup
‘When you look at what Arsene Wenger did, putting himself up as an assurance against the stadium. He was forced to stay at the club and what he did in those years, getting us into the Champions League was amazing,’ Wright added.
‘But he didn’t quite get us over the line in respect of the Champions League.
‘If Mikel Arteta can do that, he supersedes everybody. He will have done something no-one in our history has done before.
‘What he has done, coming into a club the size of Arsenal as a No 2, turning everything around. He got players in, players out. He got the owners and the fans onside.
‘Now he’s one step away from winning the Champions League, which we have never done before. it’s incredible and he will go down as the best.’
