Erling Haaland’s Dad Fires Back at Arsenal After Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Brutal Celebration in 5-1 Thrashing

In a tense and dramatic aftermath of Arsenal’s stunning 5-1 victory over Manchester City, Alfie Haaland, the father of the prolific Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, has launched a sharp rebuttal at Arsenal following an apparent dig at his son. The match, which saw Arsenal dominate Pep Guardiola’s side in front of their home crowd, also witnessed a controversial celebration from 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who copied Erling Haaland’s signature meditation celebration after scoring his first Premier League goal.

The celebration, widely believed to be aimed at the City striker after their intense rivalry earlier in the season, was captured by millions of fans on social media. The young Arsenal star, who had already been a standout performer for the Gunners, took the moment to send a clear message to Haaland, whose towering presence in the Premier League this season has been impossible to ignore.

Arsenal’s official social media account further stoked the flames by posting an image of Lewis-Skelly’s celebration with the caption “This Team.” It was a proud and cheeky nod to the young star’s moment of defiance, but it was one that didn’t go unnoticed by the Haaland family. Within moments, Alfie Haaland, who himself had a brief spell at Manchester City between 2000 and 2003, responded with a biting comment: “This Team that wins everything. Ehhhhh, not.”

The comment was a sharp jab at Arsenal’s recent inability to secure major trophies, a fact that has been a constant source of frustration for Gunners fans. Despite the club’s vast improvements under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has consistently fallen short in their pursuit of the Premier League title, especially at the hands of City, who have dominated English football in recent years. Alfie’s response made it clear that he wasn’t going to let the celebrations go unchallenged, and his words have certainly added an extra layer of tension to this already charged encounter.

The seeds of the rivalry between Haaland and Arsenal were sown earlier this season during the highly anticipated 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad. That match saw a heated confrontation between Haaland and Arsenal’s Gabriel, as the two exchanged words following a tense exchange on the pitch. When Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was then a spectator, stepped in to support Gabriel, Haaland dismissed him with a sarcastic gesture, telling the teenager, “Who the f** are you?” The spat only added fuel to the fire, creating an atmosphere of animosity that would come to a head in their latest encounter.

Fast forward to Arsenal’s crushing 5-1 win over City, and it was clear that the Gunners had not forgotten about the early-season confrontation. Lewis-Skelly, having already made his mark by scoring against City, seized the opportunity to make a statement. His decision to replicate Haaland’s famous meditation celebration in front of a jubilant Emirates crowd was a moment of personal redemption, a gesture that symbolized his defiance and a direct message to Haaland.

The goal, which capped off a brilliant individual performance, was met with widespread admiration from fans, many of whom recognized the significance of the celebration. It wasn’t just a goal; it was a statement of intent, a reminder that Arsenal had the upper hand on the night and that they were no longer intimidated by Haaland’s dominance.

The atmosphere at the Emirates on Sunday night was electric, with the home crowd reveling in their team’s dominance over the defending champions. Arsenal’s victory was nothing short of spectacular, and they showed no mercy in their destruction of Guardiola’s side. The Gunners had already opened the scoring early through Martin Ødegaard, who pounced on a mistake from Manuel Akanji to give Arsenal a lead.

Erling Haaland, who has been a constant threat to defenders all season, briefly brought City level after the break, but Arsenal were quick to respond. Thomas Partey’s deflected effort restored Arsenal’s lead almost immediately, and it wasn’t long before Lewis-Skelly added a third, further cementing his place as one of Arsenal’s most promising young talents.

The rout continued as Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri scored two more goals, completing a comprehensive victory that left City reeling. The celebration from the Arsenal players, including Gabriel, who was seen laughing at Haaland as he celebrated his team’s third goal, only added to the humiliation for City. Gabriel, who had been involved in the earlier altercation with Haaland, seemed to relish the moment, even pausing to smile at Haaland as he passed him on his way up the field.

Despite the heavy defeat, Haaland’s performance wasn’t without merit. The Norwegian forward managed to score his 19th Premier League goal of the season, keeping him firmly in the race for the Golden Boot. However, his side’s defeat left him visibly frustrated, knowing that City’s grip on the Premier League title was being challenged like never before.

With Arsenal now firmly in the hunt for the Premier League title, this victory could be a pivotal moment in their season. It not only sent a message to Manchester City but also to the rest of the league that Arsenal are serious contenders. The victory over City was a statement of strength, resilience, and unity.

As for Haaland, the loss will only fuel his desire to get back on top. With just two goals behind Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race, he’ll be focused on maintaining his form and helping Manchester City regain their position at the top of the Premier League. But for now, the spotlight is firmly on Arsenal, who have handed the defending champions one of their most humbling defeats in recent memory.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has been the subject of much praise following his performance, was substituted in the 90th minute to a standing ovation, a fitting tribute to a night that he will surely never forget. The teenager’s actions on the pitch not only made a statement but also underlined his growing importance to the team.

As the dust settles on this thrilling encounter, one thing is clear: the rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City has reached new heights. With both teams now fighting for supremacy in the Premier League, it promises to be a season full of drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments. And if this match is anything to go by, there are plenty more thrilling encounters to come.