Arsenal 5-1 Man Metropolis: How Myles Lewis-Skelly led the Gunners in humbling Erling Haaland as rivalry continued | Soccer Information

The primary time Erling Haaland met Myles Lewis-Skelly final September, the Manchester Metropolis striker had no thought who the Arsenal teenager was.

“Who the **** are you?” he cried on the 18-year-old. “He looks like he’s going to eat him,” added Gary Neville about Haaland’s mannerism in the direction of his opponent.

Quick ahead 4 months – and the one factor Haaland was consuming after his subsequent recreation towards Lewis-Skelly was a humble pie come full-time.

The Metropolis ahead thought he had silenced the Emirates together with his second-half equaliser however little did he know that {the teenager} he mocked 133 days earlier than would find yourself having the final chuckle – in a 5-1 win that made a mockery of Haaland’s “stay humble” feedback to Arteta in September.

Lewis-Skelly took the sport away from Metropolis, his dazzling run within the field and end previous Stefan Ortega was the second Haaland and co knew they might not win this recreation.

However the 18-year-old’s choice to mock Haaland’s meditation celebration epitomised this younger man’s confidence. It even stopped Pep Guardiola in his tracks in his post-match press convention.

It resulted in Haaland barging over Lewis-Skelly 10 minutes later to concede a foul. Haaland noticed, Haaland seen, Haaland did not prefer it. Maybe his father did not both, judging by his personal social media antics.

Lewis-Skelly had that swagger – verging on conceitedness – all through the sport. However crucially – and in contrast to Haaland – who had 9 touches of the ball and who Thierry Henry accused of “not doing enough” – the teenager backed his antics relating to Haaland up with an awesome all-round efficiency.

He gained possession again 4 instances in the course of the pitch – solely William Saliba had an even bigger tally. A kind of moments noticed him defend the ball away from Haaland within the field.

His want to drive by way of the midfield noticed him win three fouls – no participant on the pitch gained extra and the final one of many recreation prompted that second of frustration from Haaland. “He is fearless,” stated Gary Neville on commentary.

“He is very good at expressing – some players struggle with that,” stated Mikel Arteta after the sport about Lewis-Skelly’s huge strengths.

“He does that in his body language, how he lives the game. He wants to make things happen, he takes initiative. At that age, it’s not easy to see.”

It was clearly on present – and it reverberated across the staff. It was a part of a collective message that Arsenal wouldn’t be pushed round.

One other flashpoint noticed Gabriel have fun Martin Odegaard’s opener in Haaland’s face after simply two minutes. Even the Arsenal PA announcer performed Kendrick Lemar’s ‘Sit Down, Be Humble’ observe on the full-time whistle.

Whereas Arteta revealed after the large win over Metropolis that he needed his staff to give attention to the efficiency – however his gamers – and his membership – had different concepts.

“We had fire in our bellies, we really wanted to amend that,” stated participant of the match Declan Rice. That included Haaland’s remedy of Lewis-Skelly on the Etihad.

However an even bigger message Lewis-Skelly despatched was to fellow teenager Ethan Nwaneri, introduced on with round 10 minutes to go.

The left-back’s purpose and confidence confirmed Nwaneri that something is feasible at this degree. So the 17-year-old substitute put one within the backside nook wirh the final kick of the sport.

It meant Nwaneri put one previous a Guardiola staff on the age of 17 years and 318 days. Just one participant has achieved that feat at a youthful age. His title is Jude Bellingham.

Arsenal have two kids who might help their title cost in any context, in any testing setting. That will not be sufficient for a lot of – as additional assist from the switch market is required – however it’s a enhance. “They play with a lot of purpose and played to contribute and make things happen,” added Arteta.

The Gunners have been right here earlier than with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, two kids who got here by way of to stardom collectively, however the latter has since departed to Fulham.

Arteta’s file for bringing kids by way of has been questioned just lately, with Chido Obi Martin and Ayden Heaven leaping ship to Manchester United over the past six months.

However Lewis-Skelly – and Nwaneri – have proven that even the good Haaland – who turned certainly one of quickest gamers to 250 membership profession targets on Sunday – could be toppled by not simply listening to the noise, however embracing it.

The jeers of Arsenal’s gamers – Lewis-Skelly’s included – might reverberate in Haaland’s head for the remainder of the evening. He actually is aware of who the 18-year-old is now.