Step aside Mikel Merino, David Raya thinks one other Arsenal star’s transformation this season has been ‘crazy’

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Despite failing to win the Premier League, Arsenal have still enjoyed several highs in what has been a chaotic and turbulent season in N5.

Liverpool have comfortably beaten the Gunners to the league title, but Mikel Arteta’s men remain in the Champions League and have a genuine chance at winning the European competition.

Arsenal destroyed Real Madrid over two legs, in the two standout matches in the Gunners’ campaign.

The North Londoners have also enjoyed doing the double over Tottenham, as well as producing statement victories over Manchester City, PSV Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, perhaps the greatest triumph so far this season moving forward for Arsenal is the emergence of a talented Hale End youngster.

• READ MORE: Mikel Arteta actually won a European trophy with PSG before making Arsenal switch

David Raya says Myles Lewis-Skelly’s breakthrough has been ‘crazy’

Mikel Merino has enjoyed a successful transition from being a midfielder to a striker in recent months, with this position change igniting his Arsenal career.

However, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s transformation from promising Hale End youngster to first-team superstar and England international has been more eye-catching.

The teenager has come into the Arsenal senior side and made the left-back position his own, starting 12 Premier League games since December.

Speaking to Ben Foster for Amazon Prime Video, goalkeeper David Raya waxed lyrical about Lewis-Skelly’s development.

“I knew him from last season that he was stepping up a bit, training with us, but obviously this season he had the chance,” the Spaniard said.

“He showed his quality and he has just adapted so, so, so well into that left-back position when coming inside, that’s what the gaffer wants is to have that full-back inside and credit to him and everything he’s done, got that debut for England and scoring that goal as well. I

“It’s just crazy how, especially at such a young age, he’s only 18, you can see his future.”

Lewis-Skelly is now likely to start for Arsenal in a Champions League semi-final, with the starlet in line to be selected to face PSG at the Emirates on Tuesday.

This meteoric rise will no doubt be inspiring those currently in the Hale End academy, looking to find their way into the first team in the coming years.

What David Raya said about Jakub Kiwior before Arsenal v PSG

When Gabriel Magalhaes was ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury at the start of April, Arsenal fans were understandably anxious about what replacement Jakub Kiwior could do for the Gunners.

However, Kiwior impressed in the Real Madrid tie, and is now likely to keep the left-centre-back position for the remainder of the campaignn.

Asked about the Pole’s recent exploits, Raya responded: “People were surprised by how well he dealt with everything when he came in.

“The players, the staff and everything – nobody was surprised because it shows the quality that he has, but obviously he hasn’t played that many games.

“He always delivers and that’s the good thing about our squad. We had big, big, big, big injuries, everybody that has stepped in due to injury has done great, done well, but that’s the quality of the squad that we have.”