Manchester City striker Erling Haaland words to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta earlier this season came back to haunt him on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.
Image: Glyn Kirk / AFP
Arsenal's brilliance to turnover Manchester City 5-1 in the Premier League match has been overshadowed by some silly back and forth shade-throwing that has lacked some class.
It actually all started in September when Manchester City striker Erling Haaland told Arsenal to be “humble” following a draw at the Etihad Stadium between the two teams.
That match had a bit of extra spice after Arsenal felt they were unlucky to get a red card against them and proceeded to try and keep City out by defending deep and celebrating every clearance like they had just scored. However, John Stones got a point for City with late goal, before Haaland’s chirp.
On Sunday, it seemed like that chirp was still fresh in Arsenal players’ minds, with defender Gabriel celebrating Martin Odegaard's opening goal just two minutes into the match in Haaland’s face.
Haaland got his own back by scoring the equaliser to make it 1-1, but Mikel Arteta’s team started to run riot, defender Myles Lewis-Skelly later imitated Haaland's signature meditation goal celebration when he put the Gunners 3-1 up.
The day ended with the resounding echoes of Kendrick Lamar’s 'Humble' reverberating through the stadium, a clear nod to Haaland's comments.
Haaland walked off the field at the end, pointing to their gold Premier League badge, which only the defending league champions wear, suggesting that Arsenal have won nothing while his team have won four league titles in a row.
Alfie Haaland, Erling’s father and a former City player himself, also joined the “humble” bashing when he slammed Arsenal on social media after they posted a picture of Lewis-Skelly’s celebration
“«This Team» that wins everything. Ehhhhh, not,” Alfie Haaland retorted.
It's all a bit cringeworthy, though, especially on Arsenal’s part. For the last two seasons they have wilted in the face of City’s domination in the Premier League title race. Now that they have finally “humbled” Pep Guardiola’s men, they are still not favourites to win the league, trailing leaders Liverpool - who have a game in hand against Everton - by six points.
Man City have been taking a beating this year and are nothing special. Even lowly Tottenham beat them 4-0 at the Etihad. So Arsenal celebrating like they had just conquered Mount Everest is a bit much
Of course, I understand the theatre of it all and the hurt City have caused the Gunners over the years, but was all that really necessary? I can’t imagine what they will do when they finally get their hands on the Premier League title …
There is a thing called karma. Karma is currently dealing with City and Haaland following the disappearance of the 115 charges that were brought against them and the “humble” comment.
But Arsenal actually do need to stay humble. They have only won an FA Cup under Arteta over the last five years and have already been knocked out of the League Cup and the FA Cup this season.
In the past Arsenal have been distracted by the sideshows, with Arteta taking swipes at referees, fellow coaches and opposition players rather than focusing on his own team.
Arsenal were awesome on Sunday night, carving City open like a West Coast snoek. If they can build on that, and forget about the sideshows, they can actually something special this season.
But first they have to actually take Haaland’s advice and be humble …
@JohnGoliath82
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