ARSENAL whizkid Myles Lewis-Skelly took an astonishing 2-2 Etihad draw to new levels of bizarreness.
The sub, 17, was booked midway through the second half – 25 minutes BEFORE coming on for his Premier League debut.
Myles Lewis-Skelly saw yellow after a dugout incident
He appeared unperturbed by the odd incident
GettyLewis-Skelly made his debut as a late replacement for Jurrien Timber[/caption]
The reason for the England Under-19 star’s yellow card in a thriller at champions Manchester City was unclear.
But one fact is certain – Mikel Arteta brought him on in stoppage time as 10-man Arsenal clung to a 2-1 lead, only for John Stones to bundle a 98th-minute equaliser for the champions.
However, it was the earlier incident by the dug-out midway through the second period that bemused viewers.
Lewis-Skelly was caught in an exchange of words and referee Michael Oliver had no hesitation in dishing out a booking.
It came as the Gunners defended deeper and deeper in the face of overwhelming possession from City.
Riccardo Calafiori’s brilliant curver and a header from Gabriel Magalhaes had overturned a typical early opener from City striker Erling Haaland.
But Leandro Trossard earned a controversial red card for a soft second booking just seconds before the interval.
But amid a series of other dramatic events, a caution for Lewis-Skelly still stood out for its strangeness.
GettyThe starlet was on the pitch for seven fateful minutes[/caption]
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And social media reacted with bemusement.
One fan hailed the teenager for “achieving something remarkable at tender age of 17”.
He added: “Received his first yellow card before even getting on the field to make his Premier League debut. What a future awaits.”
Another viewer wrote: “Fair play to Lewis-Skelly, got to be the first player ever booked before making their debut.”
Normally a midfielder, the starlet can also play at left-back – and it was Jurrien Timber he replaced on 91 minutes.
And there was nothing he could do when City sub Stones scrambled a point-saver to put Pep Guardiola‘s men back on top of the Prem by a point from Liverpool.