Arsenal were able to record a 3-0 Champions League win over Monaco on Wednesday night, with Myles Lewis-Skelly included in the starting XI.
Arsenal are in the depths of a defensive injury crisis at the moment. There were fitness concerns about Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber ahead of this fixture, whilst the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu were all ruled out.
Given this dearth of options at the back, Mikel Arteta handed a first ever Champions League start to Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The 18-year-old slotted in at left-back, and played with a maturity beyond his years. The Hale End academy graduate was also able to play a key role in Bukayo Saka’s opening goal, as he shimmied away from a Monaco player to create space for himself, before playing a perfectly-weighted defence-splitting pass to find Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian striker’s cross was then turned in at the back post by Saka. Plenty of Arsenal players then swarmed around Lewis-Skelly in celebration.
Arsenal fans hail Myles Lewis-Skelly after first Champions League start
Arsenal needed this Champions League win after their disappointing draw against Fulham last time out in the Premier League.
Arteta will be delighted with the performance that his players produced at the Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile, many Arsenal fans on X were swift to heap praise on Lewis-Skelly after the final whistle.
One said: “MLS what a player people forget he’s not even a LB tidy player great future ahead of him.”
Another claimed: “MLS could be doing a bukayo and securing that LB spot at a young age hopefully starts on the weekend.”
One Arsenal supporter stated: “How good was Lewis Skelly? Performances like that show if Calafiori is out theres no need to put Timber LB & Partey RB. Play MLS at LB & keep Timber RB his best position.”
Another added: “I’ve been telling everyone about MLS and I will say it again. Myles Lewis Skelly should be England’s first choice LB.”
What Mikel Arteta can learn from Lewis-Skelly display vs Monaco
Arteta has admitted that his Arsenal full-backs are more injury prone due to the tactical demands he makes of them. As such, the Spanish coach requires plenty of options in that part of the pitch.
Lewis-Skelly has now shown that he can be relied upon to impress for the Gunners at the highest level, and should now be considered a viable left-back option to start matches in that role more regularly.
Arsenal fans have been excited about Lewis-Skelly for a long time, and for good reason. He has now shown what he can do on the biggest stage, and needs to be given more opportunities to kick on from here.
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