One of our own: All hail Myles Lewis-Skelly
Arsenal eased past AS Monaco to move into third place in the Champions League table boosted by the superb performance of Hale End academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly
Hello!
Happy Thursday!
This platform aims to give a quick spot of insight a few days a week, from my unique position as a journalist who covers Arsenal on a daily basis, and as fan who has been attending games week in, week out since the early 1980s.
I have to say it certainly is a Happy Thursday after Mikel Arteta’s side swept aside AS Monaco at the Emirates last night.
Two goals from Bukayo Saka as well as an assist for Kai Havertz’s late third ensured the Gunners eased to third position in the Champions League table with two to play.
With all three goals coming from open play, the noise from the anti-Arsenal brigade throwing set piece jibes at us were strangely absent, as was their tedious agenda.
I covered the game from my usual spot in the Arsenal press box, and it was a joy to see the heartening performances from so many players, especially considering we were supposed to have an injury crisis.
Kudos of course, has to go to Saka, who, yet again, was simply superb.
Yet, it was another Hale End graduate who also caught the eye, none other than Myles Lewis-Skelly.
All Hail Myles Lewis-Skelly
I’ve been watching this talented 18-year-old for a few seasons now, most at Meadow Park, through his appearances for the Arsenal U18s and U21s, and he’s always been a solidly strong and reliable player, blessed with an excellent technique, good positional awareness and a wonderfully calm temperament.
It’s been wonderful to chart his rise.
I attended Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference after the match last night, and what struck me was his pride in Lewis-Skelly’s performance.
Arteta was almost like a proud dad the way he hailed the talented teen’s performance against such pedigree opposition from Ligue 1.
It was wonderful to watch and listen to Arteta speak so glowingly about the player.
Speaking about Lewis-Skelly’s first Champions League start, the boss said [it was] a “really proud moment.
“He’s one of our own, 18 years old.
“He makes his starting debut in the Champions League and he’s just a joy to watch him you know.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to give a chance to somebody, to start to change his career.
“He certainly took the chance and it’s great that we can trust him, that he can play in this environment and on this level and I was really happy with his performance.”
Arteta added: “He’s good, he’s been in contention [for more starts].
“In pre-season he opened our eyes to say I’m ready, the same as Ethan.
“He feels comfortable in this environment, they can perform, they can compete which is important as well not just play and today he’s shown that he’s at that level.”
Myles Lewis-Skelly caught the eye when featuring in the team that played at LA Galaxy’s home ground vs Bournemouth when I covered Arsenal’s pre-season tour of America back in the summer. Pictured signing his first pro-deal back in October 2023. CREDIT: Arsenal FC
I covered the Los Angeles stage of the Gunners US tour back in the summer and it was clear that both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri were operating at a different level to the other youngsters who were also brought along to boost their learning - although, to be fair, I was also impressed by Ayden Heaven as well.
I remember sitting in the press box at the Dignity Health Sports Park on a sweltering night in Carson, on the outskirts of that vast, fascinating city that is LA - otherwise known as LA Galaxy’s stadium and David Beckham alma mater - watching a raft of youngsters go through their paces well before kick-off, in a friendly against Bournemouth.
If memory serves me correctly, Lewis-Skelly played at left-back that night. Played well at left-back too.
I found a grainy photo on my phone when looking back at that memorable tour this morning - with the Gunners’ No49 boasting the appropriate initials of MLS seeing as they were playing in a Major League Soccer stadium - who looked a seamless part of the team celebrations after Fabio Vieira’s (now on loan at Porto) opener vs the Cherries on a hot night in LA.
…….
I also recall going to the FA Youth Cup semi-final back in April 2023, when Jack Wilshere’s talented young guns beat the gilded teenagers of billionaire moneybags Manchester City.
My picture taken during the FA Youth Cup semi-final back in April 2023, when Lewis-Skelly (No6) hit a 120th minute winner to beat Man City and reach the final. CREDIT:
In a hard-fought match, Lewis-Skelly - who had run his heart out for 120 minutes after the tie had gone to extra time - before MLS fired home a last-gasp free-kick to win the game with virtually the final touch of the ball.
I can still recall their youngsters joyous and jubilant celebrations on a memorable night at the Emirates.
Fast forward 18 months, to when I paid a visit to London Colney earlier this week to run the rule over Arteta’s squad ahead of Monaco.
I was suspicious of the fact that the Arsenal boss kept emphasising Kieran Tierney in a way that suggested, in light of numerous injuries to players across the backline - so much so that I did wonder if, in that disingenuous way of his when talking about team selection (and why not) whether it was a bluff, and that Arteta had actually decided to pick Lewis-Skelly at left-back instead of Tierney.
And so it proved. I think he certainly fooled Ali Hutter’s Monaco, who had believed the subterfuge that Tierney would start of at left-back. As it was the Scot didn’t even feature, prompting further questions about his future - or lack of - at Arsenal.
As an aside, speaking of Hutter (whose first name is actually, and deeply unfortunately, Adolf) the former Eintract Frankfurt boss - who led his side to that damaging victory over Arsenal at the Emirates back in November 2019, that was to cost Unai Emery his job, spoke glowingly about Arsenal.
It was so heartening and unexpected - given that no Premier League boss would ever be so effusive about a rival - it was almost as if Hutter was putting himself out there in the shop window to be considered by Premier League clubs as a future boss in this country.
Or maybe that’s just me being cynical, in light of someone being so generous in their praise. Anyway it was nice to hear.
………
Simply Unacceptable
On a far, far more serious note, the Jewish Gooners group released the statement below, which I stand in 100 per cent agreement with.
Such behaviour is simply unacceptable and Arsenal must show zero tolerance to any employee who has been found guilty
