In a dramatic turn of events at Arsenal's home ground, teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly emerged as the unlikely hero in a commanding 5-1 victory over Manchester City, marking a significant moment in this season's Premier League title race.
The story began five months ago when Manchester City's star striker Erling Haaland dismissively asked "Who are you?" to Lewis-Skelly during a heated exchange following a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. The Arsenal teenager had made headlines even before playing his first Premier League minute, receiving a yellow card while warming up as a substitute.
Now, Haaland has his answer. The 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly not only inspired Arsenal's emphatic win but also delivered an unforgettable celebration aimed directly at City's Norwegian striker. After scoring his first Arsenal goal, Lewis-Skelly dropped to his knees and crossed his arms in Haaland's signature meditation pose, a moment his teammates allowed him to savor fully.
Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, speaking on Match of the Day 2, praised the young talent: "I have seen Lewis-Skelly very close. His whole attitude stood out, he is playing above his age. He was not afraid of Haaland at all. He has confidence weeping through his veins."
The match carried extra tension stemming from September's encounter, where Arsenal nearly won with ten men before John Stones' last-gasp equalizer. That game's aftermath saw Pep Guardiola declare "You want a war? Now we war." However, this latest battle proved entirely one-sided, exposing City's concerning tendency to collapse under pressure.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta highlighted Lewis-Skelly's performance: "You need big individual performances against this Manchester City team to beat them in the manner that we have done and Myles was certainly one of them with the maturity he showed and the competitiveness as well."
The victory was particularly crucial for Arsenal's title aspirations, keeping them within six points of league leaders Liverpool. The Gunners' unbeaten league run now extends to 14 games, suggesting they're ready to capitalize should Liverpool stumble.
The final moments saw another teenage talent, Ethan Nwaneri, add the finishing touch with a sublime strike. As Lewis-Skelly left the field to a standing ovation in the 88th minute, Arsenal fans claimed him as "one of our own." The club may have lost promising youngster Ayden Heaven to Manchester United, but this performance proved they have other emerging stars in their ranks.
In a fitting conclusion to the evening, Kendrick Lamar's "Humble" played over the stadium speakers after the final whistle - a pointed message to Haaland and Manchester City, who had earlier taunted Arteta to "stay humble." If Arsenal maintain their current trajectory while heeding their own advice, this could indeed become a Premier League title race to remember.
