Given how quickly Lewis-Skelly has progressed in Arsenal’s first team, it’s almost easy to forget that he was playing academy football less than a year ago.
Mikel Arteta has attempted to hold Lewis-Skelly back at times for the good of the youngster’s development, but it’s almost become impossible to do so.
The Hale End graduate has already become Arsenal’s first-choice left-back, and that’s arguably not even his favoured position.
Lewis-Skelly spent all of his academy days as a central midfielder, and perhaps he will still operate as a number eight for Arteta long-term.
Spain’s media review Myles Lewis-Skelly against Real Madrid
But in terms of Lewis-Skelly’s efforts against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in Arsenal’s 2-1 win, you’d never come away concluding that the defender needed to switch positions.
Up against one of Europe’s most impressive wingers, Rodrygo, the 18-year-old was almost immaculate, emulating the excellence of Jurrien Timber on his opposing flank.
That being said, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo gave Lewis-Skelly a glowing rating after watching him at the Bernabeu, describing how he ‘didn’t suffer’ at all.
Keeping their verdict relatively brief, they wrote: “One of Arsenal’s biggest news stories has graduated at the Bernabeu. He didn’t suffer at his own expense and was damaging in attack.”
Of course, it is pertinent to describe Lewis-Skelly’s season overall as a graduation — he’s still only just becoming a senior professional.
Interestingly, in AS’ own ratings of Madrid’s players, Lewis-Skelly’s opponent Rodrygo was handed a 1/10 rating.
Lewis-Skelly wasn’t mentioned in the write up but it was pretty telling how Spain’s press described how Rodrygo was unable to produce anything positive.
Rating Rodrygo, they said: “The team’s most inconspicuous player. He barely made any runs from the wing, he wasn’t seen cutting in, and his long shots proved harmless.”
Declan Rice shines alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly
Of course, when praising Arsenal’s players in the second leg, it’s impossible not to mention Declan Rice too.
Rice was described as Arsenal’s ‘chief’ by the same source, who wrote about how he was the ‘boss of the midfield’.
Back closer to home, Martin Keown rated Jakub Kiwior after full-time, another Arsenal player who has only furthered his reputation over two legs.
To give Kiwior his credit, Arsenal barely missed Gabriel Magalhaes over both legs, a player who Arteta described as the club’s defensive leader recently.
It all came together for Arteta and his team over two legs, who will now need to find a solution to Thomas Partey’s absence against Paris Saint-Germain in the first half of their tie owing to suspension.
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