The Arsenal Academy graduate became the club’s second youngest starter in a North London derby after Cesc Fabregas on Wednesday night and enjoyed every minute of the occasion to the point he was still whipping up the crowd after being substituted late on.
Showing a physicality beyond his years and the confidence to navigate tight spaces and drive the ball upfield, he earned high praise from his manager.
“I think it’s very rare to see 18-year-olds playing against Kulusevski and Johnson in a big London derby for the first time to perform with that composure, attitude and that control emotionally,” said Mikel Arteta after the game.
“It makes everybody at the club very proud because he’s been in our system for a long time.”
What’s particularly fascinating about Lewis-Skelly’s story is that it wasn’t until the summer that the club decided to convert him from a midfielder into a left-back.
Ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Aston Villa, Arteta explained that the decision was taken with one eye on creating a first-team pathway for the youngster.
“When I saw him, to give him a chance and with the project that we had in the academy the moment that I saw him, the only way I could think was to change his position,” he said.
“I spoke to him and said I think this is where you’re going to have it, because I think it fits a lot of his qualities, the way that we play and it fits because we had necessities in the position, so we started to work on that.
“He got into it straight away with the personality that he has. I think it’s very obvious and now he’s doing it.”
Given Arsenal had a host of players who could, at a push, play left-back, it’s a testament to Lewis-Skelly that he’s forced his way up the pecking order to compete, even with big-money signing Riccardo Calafiori.
Reflecting on the player’s progress since he was first tested in the position in pre-season, Arteta said: “Adapting to the role is not just on the defensive part. I think physically, they’re very different demands. You’re facing wingers a lot of times in that position.
“You have to be part of that defensive line. You have to know when to release, when to not, when it’s on your side how you have to defend the box – something that he wasn’t used to.
“Then all the attacking processes on top of that, so it’s quite a lot. He’s dealing with that in a great way. Physically as well he’s matured a lot in the last year or so and it was another great performance.”
As is often the case in this country, attention has already turned to whether Lewis-Skelly could be an option for new national team manager Thomas Tuchel.
“Let him settle where he is first and talk about the reality he’s got in front of him,” said Arteta. “Stick with that and I think that’s more than enough for now.”
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