Football is never short of drama, and the latest clash isn’t about goals or tactics—it’s about a celebration that sparked a war of words.
Arsenal legend Alan Smith didn’t hold back when responding to Alf-Inge Haaland’s criticism of Myles Lewis-Skelly’s goal celebration.
Smith had a clear message for Haaland’s father: “Get back in your box.”
The Celebration That Started It All
During Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Manchester City, youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly found the net and chose to celebrate in a way that ruffled a few feathers.
He mimicked Erling Haaland’s signature meditation pose, a move that quickly drew backlash from City supporters and pundits alike.
This wasn’t just a random act of showboating—there was history behind it.
Earlier this season, after Manchester City’s dramatic late equalizer against Arsenal, Erling Haaland had aggressively thrown the ball at Gabriel Magalhães’ head and was later overheard telling Mikel Arteta to “stay humble.”
Arsenal’s response on the pitch—and in their celebrations—was seen by many as payback.
Erling Haaland’s Response: “Who Are You?”
The feud didn’t end there. Erling Haaland himself took a swipe at Lewis-Skelly, dismissively asking, “Who are you?”—a comment that only added more fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, jumped into the debate, taking to social media to poke fun at Arsenal’s trophy record.
“This team that wins everything. Ehhhhh, not,” he wrote in response to a photo of Lewis-Skelly’s celebration.
Alan Smith Fires Back
That comment didn’t sit well with Arsenal legend Alan Smith, who was quick to shut down Haaland Snr.
Smith defended Lewis-Skelly, calling his celebration lighthearted and suggesting that Haaland’s father was living vicariously through his son’s success.
“Haaland’s dad had a little chip, didn’t he? Saying, ‘Oh, yeah, all those trophies you’ve won,’ or something like that.
I thought, ‘Oh, leave it.’ It’s just funny!” Smith said.
He didn’t stop there. “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, wasn’t it? Those kinds of things are great.”
Guardiola’s Measured Response
While the debate raged off the pitch, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola took a more diplomatic approach.
When asked if his players would retaliate in future encounters with Arsenal, he dismissed the idea.
“No, come on, it’s a reaction, forget! It has happened.
Maybe we’ll find them in the Champions League this season.
Otherwise, it’s over, and next season we’ll try to beat them.
This season we could not do it at home and away.
That’s all, it’s really, really not important.”
The Premier League Weighs In
Amidst all the controversy, the Premier League has announced that it will be keeping a closer eye on goal celebrations moving forward.
Tony Scholes, the league’s chief football officer, confirmed that excessive mockery could lead to disciplinary action.
“There’s a balance. I think we all like to see celebrations.
Some of the celebrations have been very funny, entertaining, but there’s a line.
Once it crosses over into mockery or criticism, then we would need to deal with it.”
What’s Next?
With tensions still simmering between Arsenal and Manchester City, all eyes will be on their next encounter.
Will there be another round of mind games and celebrations, or will the focus shift back to the football itself?
One thing’s for sure—this rivalry is far from over.