Wayne Bridge: Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi was ‘stupid’ – but I’ve done it too

Wayne Bridge says players risk making themselves look ‘stupid’ if they taunt fans – just like Matteo Guendouzi did on Sunday.

Arsenal starlet Guendouzi was subbed against Watford with the Gunners leading 2-1 but the Premier League’s bottom side rallied to nick a point and were unlucky not to win in the end.

The big-haired Frenchman came off to a chorus of boos and reminded the crowd of the 2-1 scoreline with a hand gesture as he sulked his way to the bench.

But, the Vicarage Road faithful had the last laugh when they snatched an equaliser – leaving Guendouzi with egg on his face.

Bridge told the Liquid Football podcast, which is produced by JOE in partnership with Paddy Power: “It was a stupid move.”

Asked whether he ever did the same by presenter Kelly Cates, he joked: “When I was at Chelsea and thinking ‘we’re alright here’, maybe I would if I was getting a lot of stick from the fans.

“But even sometimes when I had scored I was thinking we’re only one up and if they go and score my celebration just looks stupid.”

The Southampton-born left-back quickly corrected himself when he remembered a time when he lauded it over Portsmouth supporters after netting for Chelsea.

Bridge is a life-long Saints fan and had been taunted all game by rowdy Pompey supporters before scoring the opener in a thumping 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge in 2003.

“When I scored against Pompey to put us 1-0 up I was in the fans’ faces giving it loads! After that I was thinking ‘please don’t let them score!’” he explained.

“It was probably just a spur of the moment thing from Guendouzi and he’ll just get the p**s taken out of him on social media and stuff now.”

But fellow Liquid Football guest Jon Walters backed the midfielder and says fans sometimes deserve a taste of their own medicine if they’ve been dishing out stick all game.

“To be fair to him it’s just confidence and you don’t want to knock it out of him,” he said.

“He probably won’t do it again but he’s getting abused by the fans, so I don’t mind him giving a little bit back.”