Despite a difficult beginning to the second half against Monaco at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal eventually won 3-0 and secured three points.
Monaco started the second 45 minutes with real purpose, putting Arsenal under considerable pressure at points.
However, Kai Havertz’s clever pressing shortly after he came on to unsettle Monaco’s back line ultimately made the difference, with the resulting chance finished in familiar fashion by Bukayo Saka.
That being said, Arsenal were far more dangerous on their own accord in the first half, able to create the chances from open play that they’d been lacking in recent games.
And fortunately for those watching on at the Emirates Stadium, Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly was instrumental against Monaco.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is ready to star for Arsenal after Monaco display
On a night in which Jurrien Timber was afforded a rest owing to a minor injury, watching on from the bench, Lewis-Skelly picked up his mantle superbly.
On evidence of his display against Monaco, the 18-year-old midfielder turned full-back is ready to start week in, week out for Mikel Arteta.
READ MORE: Who is Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly? Age, nationality, position, debut and more
Every time that fans in N5 get a glimpse of either Lewis-Skelly or Ethan Nwaneri in action, it’s so obvious that Arteta is holding them back, rather than them not being quite ready.
But if Arsenal’s injuries continue to mount up, then Arteta certainly has an extraordinary talent ready and waiting.
Lewis-Skelly was shielding the ball with authority, progressing the play well, and also showed all of his quality when providing the pre-assist for Saka’s first goal.
Mikel Arteta can’t hold Myles Lewis-Skelly back for too much longer
In January, Arsenal are willing to sell three defenders, not all at once, but the club are ready to shuffle their pack.
And with Lewis-Skelly around, Arteta should have the confidence to offload the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
It’s clear that the Hale End Academy youngster is still lacking slightly from a physicality point of view, he rarely plays 90 minutes.
But that’s only going to improve from more and more exposure in the first team, which he evidently deserves.
Just like Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly is a huge talent ready and waiting in north London, and he’s given Arteta a big boost amid a period in which Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu are often injured.
Arteta doesn’t need to buy another defender next month, he’s got a future England international raring to go.
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