Graeme Souness tells Arsenal star to ‘wind his neck in’

Graeme Souness has told Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly to ‘wind his neck in’ and says mimicking Erling Haaland’s celebration during the Manchester City thrashing was ‘not a good look’.

Lewis-Skelly copied Haaland’s meditation celebration after scoring in Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 win over the reigning Premier League champions last weekend.

Gabriel also taunted Haaland during the match in response to the Norwegian’s own antics when the two teams met back in September.

Haaland chucked the ball at Gabriel’s head when John Stones scored an injury-time equaliser that day before clashing with Gabriel Jesus and telling Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’.

The two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner also appeared to question who Lewis-Skelly was when he came on as a substitute during the match.

Arsenal certainly got revenge on Haaland, thumping Man City 5-1 to pile the pressure on struggling Pep Guardiola, but Souness still did not agree with Lewis-Skelly’s actions.

‘I like Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly,’ Souness wrote in a column for the Daily Mail. ‘Attitude is oozing out of him and it’s why I think he’s going to be a real player.

‘He put in a strong performance during Arsenal’s 5-1 defeat of Manchester City last weekend which included him mimicking Erling Haaland’s goal celebration after extending his team’s lead.

‘I love attitude in all walks of life – and not just in the football world. People who go out there and say: “This is me. I’m going to do this.” I like to see players who have b******s, too.

‘But I have to say, having seen that celebration, I think he needs to wind his neck in.

‘At 18, it’s a bit early to be going down the road of mimicking a player like Haaland, someone who’s achieved great things in our league.

‘Wait till you’ve won a few things in our game, son. Just give it a few years. Listen and learn every day until then. Know that someone so young going down that road is not a good look.’

Mikel Arteta told his team to lay off the taunts after the Manchester City victory and focus on the job on hand as they bid to win silverware this season.

Despite thrashing Guardiola’s side, Arsenal remain six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool as they attempt to win a first title since 2004.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also expressed his displeasure at Lewis-Skelly’s celebration, saying on Sky Sports: ‘I said about have football arrogance on the pitch and I loved it.

‘I didn’t like this because he’s a young player mimicking Haaland, taking the mick basically.

‘I know what Haaland said but he’s a young player, we all get carried away as young players. It was a huge moment for him.’

Just three days after their incredible victory over Man City, Arsenal were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United, losing 4-0 over two semi-final legs.

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