Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of Arsenal’s standout players as the Gunners downed Atletico Madrid and Declan Rice has revealed how hard it’s been for the teenager.
Lewis-Skelly has excelled in recent weeks playing in a midfield role.
Tonight, he kept Martin Zubimendi out of the team and once again showed his quality in playing forward and keeping his cool in the middle of the park.
Now, his midfield partner Declan Rice has spoken to the media after the game and admitted that behind the scenes, Mikel Arteta has been tough on the youngster.
Declan Rice praises Myles Lewis-Skelly after Mikel Arteta’s tough love
Last season, it very much looked like Arsenal had got one of the top young players in the country on their hands in Lewis-Skelly.
This season, things have slacked off. However, in recent weeks, he has once again shown what he’s all about and Rice has revealed just what it’s been like for Lewis-Skelly.
“We’ve always known what Myles can do. I remember last year when he played so many games, when he stepped up at Real Madrid away in the Bernabeu 18, that’s when I really thought, wow, we have a player. And our manager this year, he’s been tough on him behind the scenes,” Rice told Amazon Prime.
“He’s not played as much as he would have wanted, but what I’ve noticed with him is that he’s actually kept his head down, and worked so hard. And I’m not just saying that, he does everything right every day in early, training, gym.
“Now he’s got his chance and look, he’s ready, he’s taken it. And to be thrown in at the deep end in the Champions League semi-final and perform how he did is no surprise to me. He’s so good.”
👀 TRUE or FALSE: Mikel Arteta should NOT use Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back again…
With a huge final to come now against either Bayern or PSG, it will be interesting to see if Lewis-Skelly keeps his place in the starting XI.
Indeed, on tonight’s showing, there’s simply no way he gets dropped.
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