Arsenal’s Lessons from Recent Events
Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, stressed that his team has taken important lessons from the recent mock celebration performed by Myles Lewis-Skelly, which mimicked Erling Haaland, just days before their important Premier League match against Manchester City. The hostility of this fixture, particularly at the Emirates Stadium where the match is to be held, has grown over the years.
Previous Encounters and On-Field Behavior
Last season, after a draw at the Etihad Stadium, Haaland cautioned Arteta to maintain humility following the game. In February, during a commanding 5-1 victory over City, Lewis-Skelly attracted attention and criticism for emulating Haaland’s trademark celebration after scoring. While Lewis-Skelly has not yet made a start for the Gunners this season, Arteta acknowledged the need for growth regarding on-field behavior, stating:
“That was done, and that’s part of it. You learn from every experience, including celebrations or non-celebrations we’ve seen in the past. We certainly have grown from that.”
Injury Updates Ahead of the Match
Ahead of Sunday’s encounter, Arteta faces potential challenges with key players Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Ben White, all of whom were absent during the team’s midweek Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao. He mentioned that none of them had trained that week but promised updates after a final session before the match:
“If there is a chance, it will be after tomorrow’s session because they haven’t done anything yet. We’ll clarify their status for the squad against City soon.”
Boardroom Changes and Future Optimism
In a related development, Arteta addressed the unexpected departure of Tim Lewis, formerly the club’s vice-chair, who had been a major contributor to Arsenal’s operations since 2007. His exit, announced recently, aligns with a significant boardroom reshuffle and comes after a summer characterized by a considerable transfer investment of £250 million. Arteta expressed his gratitude to Lewis for his contributions to the team and emphasized the club’s optimism for the future, stating:
“I have incredible gratitude towards Tim and what he has done for the football club. Everybody is in different phases of their life, and that’s it; we move on. The club has a wonderful future, and I am positive about it. Every conversation with [co-chair] Stan and Josh demonstrates their commitment and vision for what lies ahead. There’s no doubt about the exciting times to come.”
