Arsenal delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over Manchester City at the Emirates, showcasing their attacking firepower with goals from Martin Ødegaard, Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri. However, club legend Tony Adams had one major concern despite the emphatic win.
The Gunners opened the scoring within two minutes, but City managed to level through Erling Haaland in the 55th minute. The Norwegian striker capitalized on a rare lapse in Arsenal’s defense, outjumping William Saliba to head the ball into the net.
While Gabriel had been physically engaged in a battle with Haaland for much of the match, Adams was frustrated by Saliba’s positioning, believing he should have done better to prevent the goal.
“He got too tight, lost sight of him,” Adams said on Premier League Productions. “He should’ve stepped in front—he’ll be frustrated with himself, and it’s something to learn from.”
Despite his critique, Adams praised Arsenal’s resilience, noting that they responded instantly with a goal from Partey before running riot in the closing stages.
He also enjoyed Gabriel’s ongoing rivalry with Haaland, which dates back to their heated exchange in a 2-2 draw earlier in the season. Gabriel made sure to have the last laugh this time, celebrating in Haaland’s face after Ødegaard’s opener.
Adams, however, believes true revenge will come when Arsenal lift silverware. “I’d rather Gabriel win the league and then call Haaland to remind him,” he said. “But that’s on the way.”
One standout for Adams was 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who marked another brilliant display with his first senior goal. The teenager’s aggressive attacking runs from full-back caught Adams’ attention, leading the Arsenal icon to jokingly compare him to the full-backs of his playing days.
“He’s invented a new role—inside left-back,” Adams said. “Imagine Nigel Winterburn or Lee Dixon trying that? They’d be told to stay back! What a talent, what a future.”
With Arsenal’s title ambitions still alive, Adams sees plenty of positives but insists defensive focus will be key in the crucial games ahead.