“It’s part of the game”Arteta reacts to Lewis-Skelly copying Haaland’s celebration

On the 4th of February, 2025, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal FC, spoke about the recent match where his team took on Manchester City in an outstanding 5-1 victory. This match not only highlighted Arsenal’s excellent attacking football but also brought attention to one of their young talents, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who scored a remarkable goal. However, it wasn’t just the goal itself that caught everyone’s attention, but the way Lewis-Skelly celebrated it. The young player mimicked Erling Haaland’s signature meditation pose after scoring, which sparked plenty of discussions among fans and media alike. Arteta, however, was quick to brush off the conversation about the celebration and focused on the importance of the result.

Arsenal’s 5-1 win against Manchester City was not only an exciting performance for the club’s supporters but also a statement of their ambition to challenge for the Premier League title this season. The game saw an impressive performance from several key players, with Lewis-Skelly’s goal adding to the list of positives from the match. Lewis-Skelly, a young and promising defender, has rapidly risen to prominence in the team and is now regarded as one of Arsenal’s most important players. His performance in this particular game has made it clear that he is not just a promising young player but also someone who can make a significant impact at the highest level of English football.

As the game unfolded, Arsenal demonstrated attacking brilliance and teamwork, which left Manchester City struggling to cope. The match was a thrilling one, with each goal scored by the Gunners serving as a reminder of their growing strength and ambition in the league. A dominant display like this against a team like Manchester City shows just how much Arsenal has improved under Arteta’s leadership. It also signals their readiness to be serious contenders for the Premier League title.

One of the standout moments of the game was Myles Lewis-Skelly’s goal. Lewis-Skelly, who has been steadily developing into one of Arsenal’s key players, found the back of the net with a well-taken strike. The goal itself was a testament to his growing confidence, skill, and maturity on the pitch. In the past few months, Lewis-Skelly has gone from a promising young talent to a regular feature in the Arsenal first team. His consistent performances have earned him the trust of Arteta, who now sees him as a vital player in the squad.

What’s particularly impressive about Lewis-Skelly is not just his ability on the ball, but his mental strength and determination to keep improving. From a young age, he has shown an exceptional work ethic and desire to learn from his teammates and coaches. His rapid rise through the ranks is a reflection of his commitment to the game and his eagerness to make a mark in the top flight of English football. Scoring against a team of Manchester City’s caliber is a huge achievement for the young player, and it’s moments like this that will stay with him for the rest of his career.

Given his impressive progress, many football observers believe that Lewis-Skelly could soon earn his first senior England cap. His performances for Arsenal have not gone unnoticed, and there’s speculation that national team manager Gareth Southgate could call him up in the upcoming international window. At just the beginning of his career, this would be a massive opportunity for Lewis-Skelly, and it could mark the beginning of an exciting international journey.

performance on the pitch was the main talking point, what really caught the eye of many fans and pundits was how Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrated his goal. After scoring, the young defender mimicked Erling Haaland’s famous meditation pose. Haaland, the star striker for Manchester City, has made this gesture a signature part of his goal celebrations. By replicating Haaland’s pose, Lewis-Skelly seemed to add a layer of playfulness to the situation, which many interpreted as a dig at Manchester City and their star player.

Given the intense rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City in recent years, this celebration didn’t go unnoticed. Some saw it as a cheeky, lighthearted gesture aimed at poking fun at City and their dominant striker. Others felt that it was just a fun way for a young player to celebrate his goal in a memorable manner, especially against such a high-profile opponent. Regardless of the intention behind it, the celebration added an extra element of intrigue to the match and quickly became a topic of discussion.

In the world of football, celebrations are often a reflection of the emotions a player is feeling in the moment. Whether it’s a passionate outpouring of joy, a way of making a statement, or simply a playful gesture, celebrations have long been an integral part of the game. In this case, Lewis-Skelly’s celebration seemed to be a mix of excitement and perhaps a small tribute to Haaland, who has become a symbol of Manchester City’s dominance in recent years.

When asked about Lewis-Skelly’s decision to copy Haaland’s celebration, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responded calmly and with a sense of perspective. Arteta, who has been in the game for many years, is well aware of the emotions and tensions that can arise from moments like these. However, rather than feeding into any potential controversy, Arteta downplayed the significance of the celebration.

In a statement quoted by the *Daily Mail*, Arteta said, “I don’t know, I haven’t seen that and there’s nothing that I want to discuss about that. It’s down to the players, but they know my view on it and we have to focus on us. We have to focus on us and leave anything that happens. It’s part of the game on the pitch. Whatever happens there, I think we’ve been in football a long time.