Do goal celebrations really matter? No.
Are they highly enjoyable when done well? Absolutely.
The Premier League has seen some truly fantastic goal celebrations down the years, from Ketsbaia's agressive mental breakdown, to anything that Lomano Lua Lua did, with some Nani flips and Robbie Keane cartwheels in there too.
On Monday afternoon Everton hosted Stoke in what turned out to be an absolute cracker, with Xherdan Shaqiri stealing the show with a sublime first-time lob, but having watched the highlights back again, we were seriously impressed by the level, and consistency of the goal celebrations.
Here's why:
16 mins - Shaqiri 0-1 - 'The Subtle Finger'
It's only 1-0, don't go too mad, but you've done well there so let the crowd know you're a smooth operator. Well played.
22 mins - Lukaku 1-1 - 'Get That Ball'
Not so much a celebration as a statement of intent. You're not OK with a draw against Stoke and you want to get that next goal. This one is for the fans. Appropriate.
45 mins - Shaqiri 1-2 - 'Knee Slide' to 'Bask In The Glory'
You've got to love a celebration that involves a transition from one into another, and a goal as good as Shaqiri's second fully warranted the crossed arms basking in the glow of what he had just done. Majestic.
64 mins - Lukaku 2-2 - 'The Dab'
This was the pick of the bunch. If you regularly watch American sports ie. the NFL or the NBA, then you should know all about 'dabbing', but it's a fairly random hip-hop dance craze that seems to have taken over in the States. Cam Newton loves it, and Lukaku absolutely nailed it by having a bit of a glory bask before launching into one. Outstanding.
71 mins - Deulofeu 3-2 - 'Enthusiastic Finger Guns'
Finger guns are always a good shout, but Gerard was seriously into himself after bagging an important goal, so he took the traditional up a notch.
80 mins - Joselu 3-3 - 'Knee Slide' to 'Single Finger Salute'
Another transition, this one close to perfection. The knee-slide was inch perfect, and the single finger was as cool as you like. Bonus Jon Walters love.
91 mins - Arnautovic 3-4 - 'No Big Deal'
"91st minute winner? I bag these all the time mate."
That's the message you convey when you play it cool for a massive goal, and Arnie showed Goodison Park who was boss. NFL legend Barry Sanders never celebrated a touchdown, and he said that was because if you score, you should act like you've done it before. Marko knows.
Well played to all involved in a cracking game.
