Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola found himself in the spotlight after his side suffered a shocking 5-1 defeat to title rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. While the loss exposed City’s defensive vulnerabilities, it was Myles Lewis-Skelly’s goal celebration—mocking Erling Haaland’s iconic ‘zen’ pose—that grabbed post-match headlines.
🧘♂️ Lewis-Skelly Mimics Haaland’s Celebration
After scoring Arsenal’s third goal, Myles Lewis-Skelly pulled off Haaland’s signature celebration—sitting cross-legged, hands resting on his knees, eyes closed in a meditative pose. The celebration seemed like a playful dig at the City striker, especially after Arsenal defender Gabriel was seen celebrating Martin Ødegaard’s opener right in Haaland’s face.
When Guardiola was asked about Lewis-Skelly’s antics during his post-match press conference, he responded with a sly smile:
“Oh, I didn’t see it… I didn’t see them do that… that’s good. That’s good.”
Clearly amused but careful with his words, Pep even turned to City’s media officer and jokingly asked, “Did you like my answer?”—hinting at his trademark measured reactions to potentially provocative questions.
⚽ Manchester City’s Collapse: A Defensive Disaster
City’s performance, however, was no laughing matter. Despite Haaland briefly equalizing with a towering header, Arsenal dismantled City’s fragile defense with ruthless efficiency. Goals from Thomas Partey, Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri sealed a humiliating loss for the reigning champions.
City’s defensive woes were once again exposed, with mistakes from senior players like John Stones and Manuel Akanji gifting Arsenal early momentum.
😔 Guardiola’s Candid Apology to Manchester City Fans
Beyond the light-hearted response to Lewis-Skelly’s celebration, Guardiola was deeply reflective and visibly frustrated about his team’s performance:
“It’s hard to put into words straight after a game like that. Pride hurts. Sorry to the fans that have traveled to come and watch that. How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable. Personally and collectively, it’s not us.”
Pep admitted his “pride was hurt” and emphasized the need for introspection both individually and as a team:
“I am angry, upset personally and collectively about how the game finished. There are a lot of different things that I still haven’t figured out as to why it hasn’t clicked. The heart’s there, the passion’s there; everyone’s got the right intention. We all need to stick together.”
🔍 What Went Wrong for Manchester City?
Guardiola highlighted recurring issues that have plagued City this season, particularly their defensive fragility:
“It’s happened all season—we are giving away too many things. We are aware this cannot happen, but it happened. We could’ve scored three more, but the team has to be stable—it doesn’t matter what happens.”
He stressed that despite moments of good play, City’s inability to maintain composure after conceding goals has been their Achilles’ heel:
“You have to overcome it. You cannot lose control. It’s 90/95 minutes. You cannot finish the way we played.”
🔜 What’s Next for Manchester City?
This defeat leaves City’s title hopes hanging by a thread as they risk losing ground to both Arsenal and Liverpool. With mounting defensive concerns and the team struggling to find consistency, Guardiola faces one of his toughest challenges in recent years.
However, if there’s one thing we know about Pep—it’s that he thrives under pressure. Expect changes, both tactical and mental, as City prepare to bounce back from this humbling defeat.
As for Myles Lewis-Skelly, he’s now etched his name into this fierce rivalry—not just for his goal, but for a celebration that Guardiola will certainly remember.
