Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly should be celebrating his first senior England call-up, but instead, the talented teenager has been subjected to a torrent of online abuse.
After England’s official X account shared a photo of the 18-year-old midfielder, a disturbing wave of negative comments flooded the platform.
Welcome to the #ThreeLions, @lewisskelly49!
— England (@England) March 17, 2025pic.twitter.com/WGxpepajCh
Lewis-Skelly was shamefully labelled an “arrogant prick,” “punchable,” and “unlikeable” by some users, with many of these comments appearing to be racially motivated.
The youngster was also called out for his fashion as he chose to wear a white t-shirt layered under a dark blue pinstriped jacket with white stitching details. He paired this with black pants and dark-colored shoes, completing the look with a black bag and a grey hard-shell suitcase.
This immediate and vitriolic reaction to a celebratory post highlights a deeply concerning trend of online hate directed towards young, successful Black footballers.
The comments, based on a single image, reveal a prejudiced undercurrent within certain sections of the internet.
However, further analysis suggests that the abuse might also be fuelled by a past incident involving Manchester City’s star striker, Erling Haaland.
During Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 victory over City in February 2025, Lewis-Skelly scored his first Premier League goal.
His celebration involved mimicking Haaland’s signature yoga pose, a move reportedly made in response to an earlier taunt from Haaland.
In a previous encounter, after a late Manchester City equalizer, Haaland allegedly confronted Lewis-Skelly, asking dismissively, “Who the f*** are you?”
While Lewis-Skelly’s retaliatory celebration was seen by some as a show of confidence, it also drew criticism from pundits who deemed it disrespectful.
This incident now appears to be contributing to the online hate he is receiving following his England call-up, providing another avenue for negativity alongside the blatant racism.
However, the hateful comments did not go unchallenged. Many football fans swiftly condemned the abuse, flooding social media with messages of support for Lewis-Skelly.
myles lewis-skelly unbelievably well mannered in this but apparently he's a prick and got main character syndrome cos of a totally normal picture.. proper weird discourse on here today
— niran (@TheOfficialFNG) March 18, 2025https://t.co/VQTl5UVEEl
Lewis-Skelly’s call-up to the senior England squad under head coach Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia is a testament to his rapid progress.
The Arsenal academy graduate has impressed with his versatility and maturity, making 25 appearances for the Gunners this season. Tuchel himself praised the youngster’s talent and work ethic, deeming the call-up well-deserved.
