Arsenal icon Alan Smith has fired back at Erling Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, after he took issue with Myles Lewis-Skelly’s celebration in last Sunday’s fiery Premier League showdown.
The controversy continues to escalate, adding more fuel to the growing rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Teenage sensation Lewis-Skelly made headlines after mocking Haaland’s signature celebration upon scoring his first goal for the club, putting Arsenal 3-1 ahead.
The act drew criticism, particularly from Haaland’s father, who took the opportunity to remind Arsenal of their lack of recent silverware.
The tension between the two sides has been brewing for months. Earlier this season, Haaland himself stirred controversy by throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head following John Stones’ dramatic late equalizer.
The Norwegian striker also called Gabriel Jesus a “clown” and told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble.”
Smith, a two-time Golden Boot winner and key figure in Arsenal’s past title triumphs, didn’t hold back in his response to Alf-Inge Haaland’s remarks.
“Haaland’s dad had a little chip, didn’t he?” Smith remarked. “Saying, ‘Oh, all those trophies you’ve won.’ I thought, ‘Oh, leave it!’ It’s just funny. By the way, Alf-Inge, you didn’t win much! Back in your box.
You can’t live your life through your son, you know. It was a great moment. Those kinds of things are great.”
The ongoing debate around goal celebrations has caught the attention of the Premier League, with chief football officer Tony Scholes suggesting that stricter measures could be introduced to curb excessive taunting.
While acknowledging the entertainment factor, Scholes warned that celebrations crossing into mockery could lead to disciplinary action.
With Arsenal already out of the FA Cup, the only way these two teams could face off again this season would be in the Champions League—provided City gets past Real Madrid.
As for Manchester City’s stance on the controversy, manager Pep Guardiola played it down, dismissing any need for retaliation.
“It has happened. Maybe we’ll meet them in the Champions League, otherwise, it’s over,” Guardiola said. “This season, we couldn’t beat them home or away. That’s all. It’s really not important.”
For now, the dust may be settling, but the next clash between these two sides promises to be even more intense.