Arsenal produced a one of their greatest European performances when it mattered most against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe were shocked as Gunners midfielder Declan Rice struck two rockets past Thibaut Courtois to create Champions League history.
Rice became the first player to score two free kicks in a knockout game of Europe’s elite competition and Gabriel Magalhaes reacted to Rice by asking him for his right foot on social media.
Bukayo Saka was hailed by the Spanish media following his display for the Gunners on his first start since returning from injury but pundit Jamie Carragher has singled out another Arsenal star for high praise.
Jamie Carragher compares Myles Lewis-Skelly to Jude Bellingham and Wayne Rooney
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo’s post match coverage of Arsenal’s victory over Real Madrid, former Liverpool defender Carragher lauded the performance of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Carragher stated: “He’s [Lewis-Skelly] spectacular at left back and he almost looks like one of the best players in the Arsenal team, he’s going into central midfield and receiving the ball on the half turn.”
The pundit then went on to claim that the Hale End star reminds him of Jude Bellingham and Wayne Rooney when they first started their incredible footballing journeys.
Carragher explained: “He’s [Lewis-Skelly] taking responsibility and that’s where I go back to football arrogance and it’s not about position, he reminds me a little bit of Bellingham at that age and also Wayne Rooney.”
Spain’s media were impressed with Lewis-Skelly and the full back not only locked down Rodrygo in a defensive sense but made the Real Madrid winger work hard to track his marauding runs down the left flank.
Myles Lewis-Skelly match statistics v Real Madrid
It was another performance beyond his tender years from Lewis-Skelly and impressed in both a defensive and attacking sense during the remarkable victory.
The 18-year-old came into the game under a little bit of pressure following a below-par display against Everton in which he gave away a penalty but he showed no signs of that affecting him.
The way Lewis-Skelly is able to manoeuvre himself out of tight spaces under pressure is a real asset for Mikel Arteta and is becoming an important part of Arsenal’s build up and ability to create overloads in midfield.
His one v one defending against one of the world’s most potent wingers in Rodrygo was also to be admired and his stock just keeps on rising with every passing challenge completed.
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