Arsenal delivered a ruthless performance at the Emirates, thrashing Manchester City 5-1 in a game filled with drama, goals, and heated moments between players. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel took the opportunity to mock Erling Haaland, turning the clash into a nightmare for the Norwegian striker.
The Gunners wasted no time asserting dominance, striking first within two minutes. A defensive error from Manuel Akanji gifted Martin Ødegaard the opener, setting the tone for what would be a humiliating evening for City.
Gabriel seized the moment to taunt Haaland, reigniting tensions that had been brewing since their fiery encounter earlier in the season.
Their rivalry dates back to September when Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head after John Stones’ late equalizer in a 2-2 draw. The Brazilian seemingly didn’t notice at the time, but on Sunday, he made sure to return the favor, much to the delight of Arsenal fans who still remembered Haaland’s “stay humble” remark directed at Mikel Arteta.
Haaland briefly gave City hope, leveling the score in the 55th minute. However, Arsenal responded emphatically. Thomas Partey restored their lead before 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly produced a brilliant curling effort to make it 3-1.
Not content with just scoring, the teenager copied Haaland’s famous ‘zen’ celebration, a possible response to the Norwegian’s previous on-field taunts.
Back in September, when tempers flared after the final whistle, Haaland reportedly asked Lewis-Skelly, “Who the f*** are you?” On Sunday, the young Gunner answered in style, celebrating in front of the City star as Arsenal continued to pile on the misery.
The humiliation deepened when Kai Havertz netted a fourth, and 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri added a stunning fifth in stoppage time, making history as the youngest scorer of the game.
The emphatic victory keeps Arsenal within six points of league leaders Liverpool, while Manchester City’s title defense looks increasingly bleak as they sit 15 points adrift in fourth place.