James Maddison brutally responds to Bukayo Saka copying his celebration in perfect fashion
James Maddison had the perfect response to Bukayo Saka trolling him with his own celebration in the North London derby between Arsenal and Spurs.
Arsenal took the lead at the Emirates when Saka's goal-bound shot deflected off Cristiano Romero and into the net.
He then proceeded to perform a darts-throwing gesture, a celebration Maddison came up with when he found the net against Bournemouth earlier this season.
Maddison responded by rinsing his England teammate for Heung-Min Son's equaliser, beating him down the left and squaring for the Spurs skipper.
Saka converted a penalty to restore Arsenal's lead but moments later Maddison pinched ball of Jorginho and laid it on a plate for Son for the second time.
After the game, he was asked about Saka mimicking him in friendly fashion and offered a quite brilliant answer.
"Me and Bukayo had a bit of banter and trash talking on international duty. I got told that he did the darts celebration and he must have still been doing it when I turned him for the first goal I think.
"I'll have a little word with him in there."
James Maddison on Saka doing his celebration
— Tottenham Tiers (@TottenhamTiers) September 24, 2023
“He must’ve still been doing it when I turned him for the first goal” 😂pic.twitter.com/V5ZT2InXle
Maddison and Saka have a friendship off the pitch and he recently presented the winger with his England Player of the Year award - though he did joke that he was giving him a Spurs scarf.
Former Leicester City man Maddison picked up the Man of the Match after another impressive display, though he did provide a huge scare when he jolted his knee.
He was then substituted as a precaution. Maddison is the cover star for the new, exciting era under Ange Postecoglou and after the game, he believes the team is moving on from the 'Spursy' tag they would regularly receive.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “Neutrals talk about Tottenham, they often say; soft, weak, bottle it, Spursy, all that rubbish.
“I think the last couple of weeks shows we might be going in a slightly different direction.”