Arsenal are in the final four of the Champions League after overcoming Real Madrid.
Before the tie, Thierry Henry urged Arsenal to have confidence, and Mikel Arteta’s side certainly followed suit.
Arsenal beat Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs, booking their place in the Champions League semi-final with a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Just like in 2006, the North Londoners left Madrid gleaming, with every member of the Arsenal squad able to hold their head high after exposing the Champions League holders.
What Myles Lewis-Skelly did before facing Real Madrid
One of the stories of the tie was Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performance against Real Madrid, being a player still in his breakthrough season at senior level.
At only 18 years old, Lewis-Skelly dominated Los Blancos on the left side of defence, playing like he’d been a first-team regular for many years.
TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher was sure to comment on the Englishman’s composed stature when sharing his opinion of the teen live from the Bernabeu.
“Lewis-Skelly looks like he’s played 300 games at the Bernabeu,” Fletcher said, prompting Rio Ferdinand to applaud the Hale End graduate’s humble nature.
“Me and Ally were watching him [before kick off]. He was on a call. Maybe to his mum, just chilling.”
On one of the biggest nights of Arsenal’s recent history, and undoubtedly the biggest occasion of Lewis-Skelly’s budding career, the starlet showed no sign of cracking under pressure.
Instead, it was quite the opposite, as the England international was relaxed pre-match and even more so once the contest commenced.
Lewis-Skelly dominated Real Madrid over two legs
Lewis-Skelly received heavy praise after the first leg, and after the second, the Arsenal academy graduate’s name was up in lights.
| Lewis-Skelly’s masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu |
| 90 minutes played |
| 5 clearances |
| 2 interceptions |
| 1 tackle |
| 9 duel wins |
| 5 fouls drawn |
| 100% long balls completed |
| 100% dribbles completed |
After recording two key passes and an assist in the first leg, the 18-year-old showed the defensive side of his game in the second, winning nine duels.
The left-back also completed 100% of his attempted dribbles and long balls, as well as recording eight defensive actions over 90 minutes, giving Real Madrid no chance to get close to him.
What a performance from Lewis-Skelly and what a season the Hale End product is having.
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