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A number of Arsenal players have been criticised by supporters for appearing to ignore their mascot ahead of their Premier League clash with Norwich.
In a video posted on Sunday, the Gunners can be seen arriving off the team coach at Carrow Road for Freddie Ljungberg’s first game as interim head coach.
The young mascot is shown standing in the tunnel wearing Arsenal’s third kit, the strip the side wore against the Canaries.
But as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shkodran Mustafi, Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Calum Chambers walk towards the dressing room they walk straight past without acknowledging the child.
The incident was caught by Norwich’s social media team as they put the footage on their Instagram Live story.
However, in the next clip the next group of players reportedly gave the mascot a high-five, with a fan writing: ‘To be fair, the next batch of players off the bus gave him a high 5 but no doubt the boy was excited by Auba, Lacazette etc.’
Despite this, fans still took to social media to slam the first five players for ignoring the mascot.
That broke my heart, tbh. The little man is obviously shy and probably not the kind of kid who would extend his hand for a high five or a fist bump; the lads should’ve acknowledged him—it won’t take but a second!
— Hus (@Hus_Gunnerian) December 3, 2019
I’m raging here
— Tom Evans (@M12_TDE) December 3, 2019
@Aubameyang7 @MesutOzil1088 Can we get the poor lad a signed jersey? The least he deserves.
— Leon (@goonerleon10) December 3, 2019
Imagining that he was my little brother, he puts his interest in football and always ask photo after watching them playing, thats really break my heart 😢
— Dini Y (@missiyut) December 3, 2019
Xhaka with have not let this happen @Aubameyang7 why man breaking children’s hearts?
— ᴘᴇᴘᴇʀɪᴛᴏ (@BlockingThePass) December 3, 2019
Arsenal drew the game 2-2, but needed a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to rescue a point after Norwich had twice taken the lead through Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the first half after a handball in the box from Canaries defender Christoph Zimmermann.
Tim Krul had saved Aubameyang’s initial effort, but VAR ruled that it had to be retaken after encroachment from several Norwich players. The Arsenal top scorer made no mistake with his second spot kick.
After the game, Norwich boss Daniel Farke said he was not happy with the decision: “We put a great performance today against a great side: one point against Arsenal is always a great result. But we deserved to take all the three points.