FATHER OF THE PRIDE
Erling Haaland’s dad trolls Arsenal with seven-word post after Man City ace was brutally trolled in Gunners celebrations
Man City striker's father wades into an unseemly exchange between the Prem giants
ERLING HAALAND's dad hit back at brutal trolling from Arsenal with an even icier message of his own.
Alf-Inge Haaland saw the Gunners milk a 5-1 win over Manchester City by copying his son's goal celebrations and posting the picture afterwards.
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Awkward, if not angry, feelings between the clubs have run high following a dramatic 2-2 Prem draw at the Etihad last September.
Haaland Junior struck first that day but City only rescued a point against the 10-man Gunners when John Stones scrambled an equaliser eight minutes into stoppage time.
The Norwegian hitman then inflamed a tense situation by telling Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta to "stay humble".
Gunners defender Gabriel Magalhaes led the animosity that followed.
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He said: “It’s a battle, a war. It’s normal to have provocative acts in football, it’s part of the game."
And simmering emotions were ratcheted up when Gabriel hailed Martin Odegaard's opener on Sunday by rejoicing in Haaland's face.
But the ex-Borussia Dortmund star soared to equalise in the 55th minute.
Haaland marked his goal coldly, with a look that bordered on a smirk.
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But the Gunners then netted four more times via Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri to go second in the Prem.
And Lewis-Skelly, in particular, taunted Pep Guardiola's men with the way he lauded his strike.
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The left-back, 18, mimicked a Haaland celebration by sitting on the ground, as if meditating, while his team-mates looked down on him.
Defeat left champions City 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
And Arsenal's media team responded to their side's thumping victory by sharing a snap of a cross-legged Lewis-Skelly being mobbed.
The Gunners added the words: "This team" - along with a clenched fist.
Ex-Man City defender Haaland Senior quickly replied: " «This Team» that wins everything. Ehhhhh, not" - followed by a blue heart.
That's a reference to City winning six of the last Prem titles, whereas Arsena's last silverware came when lifting the FA Cup in 2020.
But fans were split over whether Alf-Inge's intervention was helpful for his son.
One observer posted: "Stay humble has gone crying to his dad I see."
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Another added: "Watch your boy, he is still eating humble pie."
But some supporters appeared to back Haaland Senior as they mocked the Gunners' announcement.
One said: "That result wins them the social media trophy until Newcastle bounce them out of the only competition they could win this season."
That's because Arsenal visit Newcastle in Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final, 2-0 down from the first leg.
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And a few fans were positively delighted by Alf-Inge.
One wrote: "Spot on. More a***d about winning made-up social media battles than trophies."
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