What the French press are now saying about Myles Lewis-Skelly after watching him during Arsenal vs PSG

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Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly started and impressed against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the Champions League.

With Riccardo Calafiori out injured, the Hale End academy graduate assumed the left-back role in Mikel Arteta’s team, a position he has made his own in recent months.

PSG ultimately beat Arsenal 1-0 courtesy of an early strike from Ousmane Dembele, giving the Gunners a difficult task to turn the scoreline around away in Paris next week.

Despite the defeat, Lewis-Skelly was far from the problem for the North Londoners on the night, putting in a solid all-around display that deserved plaudits.

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French press react to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performance during Arsenal vs PSG

Dominated in the opening 30 minutes, Arsenal recovered from a poor start to produce a cromulent performance, although they ultimately didn’t have enough offensive firepower to cause PSG’s backline significant issues.

The Gunners will have to do significantly more to harm the French giants at the Parc des Princes next week, with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal largely untested at the Emirates.

While Arteta will be asking for more from his attackers, he can’t ask for much more from Lewis-Skelly.

The talented youngster was exceptional throughout, carrying the ball through the heart of PSG’s midfield and drawing fouls in difficult situations to relieve pressure on numerous occasions.

French media was equally impressed with how Lewis-Skelly was able to recover from a tough opening period and assert himself on the game.

Foot Mercato handed the 18-year-old a six out of ten, the joint highest rating for an Arsenal player, writing: “Still used as a false midfielder, Myles Lewis-Skelly, like his teammates, spent twenty minutes in the Parisian washing machine, before becoming more comfortable as the match progressed.

“Author of an exceptional rush in the heart of the game to serve [Gabriel] Martinelli, imprecise in front of goal (45th), his match became clearer as he intervened imperiously in front of a very dribbling, but very uninspired [Desire] Doué.”

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Myles Lewis-Skelly’s statistics vs PSG

Above everything, Lewis-Skelly’s willingness and ability to drive with the ball when under pressure is astounding for a player of his age and inexperince.

Constantly able to turn his man and carry the ball up the pitch, it’s becoming his trademark move and superpower.

Completing every single one of his passes and winning seven ground duels, Lewis-Skelly both retained possession excellently and was physically combative when he had to fight for the ball.

Impressing on this stage is becoming the norm for the Arsenal defender, after having put in two excellent displays in the last round against Real Madrid.

The sky really is the limit for this Hale End star.