Arteta Reflects on Lessons Learned Ahead of Arsenal vs. Manchester City Clash
Mikel Arteta has stated that his Arsenal players have gained valuable insights from their previous encounters, particularly following Myles Lewis-Skelly's imitation of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's celebration during last season's match.
The two teams are set to face off on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium at 16:30 BST, in a highly competitive fixture as both clubs aim for Premier League glory.
Arteta remains unbeaten in his last four matches against City, securing two victories at home and two away. Recent matches have been marked by tension and contentious moments between the sides.
During an eventful 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last September, Haaland advised Arteta to "stay humble" after a heated exchange. The Norwegian forward also confronted Lewis-Skelly, then just 17, asking, 'who are you?' amidst a clash of players at the final whistle.
In a subsequent encounter in February, Lewis-Skelly, now 18, celebrated his goal in Arsenal's emphatic 5-1 victory by mimicking Haaland's signature pose, where he sits cross-legged on the ground in a meditative stance.
When asked if he had cautioned his players against similar celebrations, Arteta responded, "Well, if that was done, that’s it. That’s part of it. There’s been a lot of celebration and non-celebration from the past from various teams—that’s it. Every experience is a learning opportunity, and we certainly learned from that one."
Currently, Arsenal sits second in the league table with three wins from their first four matches, having conceded only one goal—a stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai in their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
This season, the club has invested around £250 million in strengthening their squad, aiming to secure their first trophy since 2020.
With the enhanced depth and quality of the squad, Arteta has more options available from the bench. Substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both scored in Arsenal's opening Champions League match this term, and Arteta is considering them for starting positions against Pep Guardiola's side, who trail by three points in the table.
Arteta remarked, "It certainly does because when players are in that state, I think they have to be used and recognized. But it’s a lot of players obviously that are in a really good moment, performing really well, and that’s what we want. Whenever we need them, I’m sure that they’re going to be at their best."