Wembley witnessed the dawn of a potential new England star as 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly etched his name into the history books with a debut goal against Albania.
The Arsenal academy graduate’s composed finish in the 20th minute, following a sublime Jude Bellingham pass, secured him the title of England’s youngest-ever goalscoring debutant and sparked joyous celebrations across the nation.
Harry Kane’s 77th-minute strike sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side, marking a positive start to the new manager’s reign.
While the focus should have been solely on Lewis-Skelly’s historic moment, it was his rather unique celebration that set tongues wagging online.
As Myles scored the goal, cameras caught a fleeting moment where he appeared to shrug off an approaching Phil Foden with a dismissive gesture before continuing his jubilant run.
— AFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) March 21, 2025
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s FIRST ever senior England goal recorded from a fan perspective…
pic.twitter.com/KaCIYXblM7
This seemingly small interaction has ignited a firestorm of reactions amongst fans, amplified by the already intense rivalry between Lewis-Skelly’s Arsenal and Foden’s Manchester City.
Lewis-Skelly’s overall performance was undeniably impressive. Beyond his goal, he showcased maturity beyond his years, demonstrating remarkable composure, intelligent runs, and a willingness to contribute both offensively and defensively.
His reading of the game and technical ability were evident throughout, leaving many England supporters excited about his future prospects.
However, the brief interaction with Foden quickly overshadowed the pure joy of the debut goal for many.
Social media platforms erupted with opinions, ranging from amusement to outright condemnation.
Arsenal through and through.
— Grey (@AFC_Grey) March 21, 2025
Arsenal fans were quick to praise Lewis-Skelly’s perceived confidence, with some even interpreting the shrug as a sign of the shifting power dynamics between the two rival clubs.
The Gunners enjoyed a memorable 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City earlier in February 2025, a match where Lewis-Skelly himself was on the scoresheet alongside Martin Ødegaard, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri. This recent victory clearly fueled the narrative amongst Arsenal supporters.
Conversely, Manchester City fans and some neutral observers viewed the gesture as disrespectful and unnecessary.
I don't rate foden but honestly if Skelly continue with this attitude and hate against his own teammate. I can't see him going far. no hate just pure talk.
— kobby (@spu_ky) March 22, 2025
He was still in elementary when Foden made his professional debut
— Will (@willCITY__) March 22, 2025
Some labeled the teenager as arrogant, suggesting that he should show more respect to a seasoned international like Foden.
The ongoing battle for supremacy between Arsenal and Manchester City, which has intensified this season in both the Premier League and the Champions League, undoubtedly added fuel to this online debate.
Adding further intrigue to the situation were the post-match comments from England manager Thomas Tuchel and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
Tuchel, while acknowledging the victory, stated, “Both of our wingers were not as impactful as normally they can be,” directly referencing Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford’s performances.
This lukewarm assessment of Foden’s contribution seemed to further embolden those critical of the City winger.
Roy Keane, never one to mince his words, was even more scathing in his analysis of Foden’s performance and his future role in the England side, “He won’t have to worry about where he wants to play, because he won’t be playing.”
