Arsenal players and fans labelled 'pathetic' for celebrating second place and finishing above Tottenham

Arsenal's jubilation at beating Spurs to second place was criticised given they failed to win a major trophy this season

Arsene Wenger celebrates after the 4-0 win over Aston Villa to clinch second place for Arsenal (Getty)

Alan Shearer has once again laid into Arsenal for playing to their full ability only when the pressure is off and the Premier League title has drifted away from them after the Gunners dispatched already relegated Aston Villa 4-0 on the final day of the season to finish second.

Shearer was not alone in his criticism, with a number of fans from other clubs poking fun at Arsenal’s celebrations for finishing second and winning no silverware this season beyond the Community Shield on the opening day of the campaign.

Shearer has been critical of Arsenal’s lack of desire and fight in the past when they have missed out on the title – a run that now stretches to 12 seasons since their last success – and he once again laid into the side for turning up when it didn’t matter.

Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day on Sunday night, Shearer said: “Like I said last year and the year before that, they’ve got ability but they lack heart and they lack a tough mentality.

“They’re experts at winning matches when the pressure’s off and the title’s gone.”

The Arsenal players were joined by the fans in celebrating the club’s 4-0 win over Villa that meant they finished above rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for second place, but while supporters were quick to rejoice in ‘St Totteringham’s Day’ – the day in the season when it’s confirmed that Spurs cannot overtake Arsenal as has been the case for the past 21 seasons.

Arsenal have been criticised before after they were seen to celebrate finishing in fourth when they beat Newcastle United on the final day of the season in 2012/13, and it looks like the same has happened once again.

Some fans also criticised the Arsenal supporters who were celebrating the second-place finish yet had criticised manager Arsene Wenger earlier in the season, with a number of people calling for the Frenchman to be sacked or forced to leave the club.

Wenger looks certain to continue in his job next season after admitting his transfer plans are already underway, with the Arsenal manager admitting he is looking to bring in “two or three players” ahead of the new campaign. Wenger was given a rousing reception after the final match of the campaign, with supporters chanting “There’s only one Arsene Wenger” as the squad completed a lap of honour, and it comes just a month after some supporters took part in a small protest against the longest-serving manager in the club’s history.