Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Piers Morgan to perform naked conga around Arsenal's Emirates Stadium if Olivier Giroud scores against Barcelona

Morgan is so confident in Arsenal's inability to test the reigning European champions that he has made the bold claim to do a naked conga if Giroud finds the back of the net

Jack de Menezes

Wednesday 03 February 2016 11:14 GMT

Arsenal fan Piers Morgan has promised to do a naked conga around the Emirates Stadium if Olivier Giroud scores against Barcelona (Getty Images)

Obsessed Arsenal fan Piers Morgan is on the verge of losing all faith in the side he so passionately supports after promising to do a naked conga around the club’s Emirates Stadium if striker Olivier Giroud scores against Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 encounter.

Morgan was at his frustrated best on Tuesday night as he voiced his displeasure at Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Southampton on Twitter, with each post as the match wore on visibly getting increasingly wound up until he couldn’t resist at having a pop at manager Arsene Wenger.

Morgan has long been a critic of Wenger’s reluctance to spend in the transfer window, although his frustration this season is shared by the majority of Arsenal fans who feel the club were one of two signings away from being almost-certain title winners.

And speaking on Talksport on Wednesday morning, Morgan decided to put his neck on the line and make a fairly outrageous bet, such is his belief that Arsenal will produce another European failure against Barcelona when they meet later this month, having twice been knocked out of the tournament by the Catalans in recent years under Wenger's reign.

“If Giroud scored against Barcelona, I will do a naked conga around the Emirates Stadium,” Morgan declared on the Alan Brazil Breakfast Show.

Morgan added on Twitter afterwards: “Thanks for having me @SportsBreakfast @RealRomfordPele - spleen still spewing, but marginally less furiously.”

It all comes after Morgan labelled Giroud “anonymous” during the goalless draw with Saints that leaves Arsenal down in fourth and five points behind leaders Leicester. To make matters worse, fierce rivals Tottenham have overtaken Arsenal and moved into third on goal difference, with Dele Alli and Harry Kane inspiring a 3-0 victory over Norwich on Tuesday night.

“Giroud anonymous, Ramsey less effective than that. Must-win game. Not feeling title-winning hunger,” Morgan posted during the match.

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Show all 12

1/12Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Cech: 6 out of 10

Will doubtless be overshadowed by excellence from Fraser Forster but as per usual Cech never put a foot wrong and was always live to Southampton’s attempts to get in behind his defenders.

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Bellerin: 5 out of 10

A rare loose display from the full-back, who was one of several to give the ball away far too often. His crossing was as good as ever but too often Long and Mane were able to exploit the space he left.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Gabriel: 5 out of 10

There were good reasons for dropping Per Mertesacker, who is looking more cumbersome by the week, but this was not a match where Gabriel fully convinced in his stead. Was very lucky to not give away a penalty in the second half when only Mane’s refusal to go down saved him.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Koscielny: 6 out of 10

A key figure in a misfiring second half, on more than one occasion sweeping in behind to stop the dangerous Long and Mane sweeping in behind. However how he missed an unmarked header from six yards out only he will know.

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Monreal: 6 out of 10

In the mistake-filled morass of the first half Monreal stood out by rarely putting a foot wrong. He sat much deeper than he has in past games but it was notable that Southampton had little joy down the right.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Flamini: 5 out of 10

Simply lacks the legs to cut it alongside Ramsey in the middle of the park. He was unable to cover the ground required as his colleague pressed forward, allowing Southampton to pick the Gunners apart on the counter. Increasingly, and justifiably, lost his rag with Ramsey as he failed to track back with any urgency.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Ramsey: 4 out of 10

Santi Cazorla dictates play for Arsenal in the deep-lying playmaking role, and so did Ramsey. Hence with so many passes flying wide of the mark and straight into touch the Gunners’ first-half was utterly atrocious. The second half saw him more often than not alongside Giroud but he had even less impact there.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Campbell: 5 out of 10

Once more the work-rate was present and correct but the quality was lacking. First the ambitious passes stopped paying off, then the basic ones. He would track back and look to recover his mistakes but more often than not that would lead to a free-kick.

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

(Sub) Walcott: 5 out of 10

Barring a double chance spurned seconds after coming on Walcott offered little to Arsenal’s attempts to break Southampton down and was once more notable by his absence.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Ozil: 5 out of 10

Muscularly dealt with by Victor Wanyama and Oriol Romeu, but his influence grew as the match wore on. He may not have been able to take the first-chance opportunities but that was more down to the luck and excellence of Forster than anything else.

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Sanchez: 7 out of 10

About the only Arsenal player in the opening period who looked like crafting a chance or even correctly placing a pass, as in his beautiful delivery to Ozil. But his own superiority was soon to be his downfall as he hubristically took the burden of the whole team’s output on his shoulders.

Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton

Giroud: 5 out of 10

Is it fair to criticise him for constantly dropping deep into midfield in a bid to create something. Probably not, such was the dominance of Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte in the air. A frustrating night was defined in opposition to the excellence of Forster, who on several occasions kept out several efforts that seemed destined for goal.

“All our rivals winning, all their top strikers scoring. Come on Arsenal, come on Giroud/Walcott - we MUST win this.

“On a positive note, we still have £200 million in the bank!!

“We were top & Wenger had £200m to spend on world class players to win us the League. He spent £7m on a little-known lightweight Egyptian.”

Olivier Giroud was thwarted on Tuesday night by Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster (Getty Images)

While many would love to see Morgan humiliated by having to do a lap of the north London stadium in the nude, the early morning declaration may have been enough to put listeners off their breakfast at the thought of it.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies