In a positive development for everyone associated with Arsenal, Myles Lewis-Skelly has committed his future to the Gunners by signing a new contract.
Amid rumoured interest from Real Madrid, the club have tied Lewis-Skelly down to a long-term deal, making him the best-paid teenager at the club since Cesc Fabregas.
The news will come as a welcome boost to Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta ahead of a busy summer, especially considering Arsenal’s history with losing quality full-backs over contractual issues.
In 2014, for instance, Bacary Sagna left the Emirates on good terms despite not signing a new deal (and subsequently joining Manchester City).
More famously, and very differently, Ashley Cole joined London rivals Chelsea after being insulted at the wages being offered to him by David Dein, feeling the initial agreement the two had reached had been reneged upon.
Having come through the Arsenal academy and having played for the first team in the same position as Lewis-Skelly, a thorough comparison can be made between a young Cole and the 18-year-old.
Interestingly, the fact that Lewis-Skelly rejected the overtures of other clubs to commit his future to Arsenal does not feature as a difference, nor does the fact that Lewis-Skelly has been nominated for PFA Young Player of the Season, something Cole failed to achieve.
Similarities
Both changed position to make it into Arsenal’s first team
Through the academy age groups, Myles Lewis-Skelly played for Arsenal as a midfielder.
Indeed, this was his position when he helped the U18s reach the FA Youth Cup final in 2023, with the youngster’s driving runs with the ball gaining him increased attention among the Gunners fanbase.
After being integrated into the first team, however, Lewis-Skelly was moved to left-back.
While able to invert into midfield and get on the ball under Arteta’s system, it is a different position that entails greater defensive responsibility.
In a similar fashion, Ashley Cole spent much of his youth playing as a striker.
However, to help him forge a career at Highbury, Cole was later converted to a left-back, a position that would stick for the rest of his career.
Calmness and composure on the ball
Through their experience in playing different positions on the football pitch, both Lewis-Skelly and Cole developed increased comfort when in possession of the ball.
With Cole, this was shown more through his composure in front of goal: in 156 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, the left-back scored eight goals.
While that might seem like a meagre total, whenever the former England international was played through on goal, he knew where the back of the net was.
See, for example, his final Premier League goal for the club in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa in February 2005 (it’s worth watching for the Dennis Bergkamp assist alone).
He showed his finishing ability from the beginning of his Arsenal career, bagging three goals in his breakout season of 2000-01.
Moreover, when handed the opportunity to take a penalty in shoot-outs, Cole often put himself forward and scored, as he did in the 2005 FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Lewis-Skelly has exhibited a similar coolness when in possession, albeit in a different part of the pitch.
Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, the England international was happy to receive the ball anywhere in the middle of the park when Arsenal had the ball, showing unbelievable composure when under pressure.
His defence-splitting pass to Gabriel Jesus during Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Monaco in last season’s Champions League is just one example of this.
Maturity and self-confidence
To play for Arsenal as a teenager, you have to be assured in yourself and your ability.
Both Cole and Lewis-Skelly achieved this feat, with the former making his debut as an 18-year-old in a League Cup tie against Middlesbrough in 1999, and the latter coming on as a substitute a few days shy of turning 18 in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City in September 2024.
As the 2024-25 season progressed, it was clear Lewis-Skelly possessed a wise head on young shoulders.
His off-pitch actions demonstrated this as much as his decision-making on the pitch, with the youngster revealing in an interview with Sky Sports how he uses daily journaling, manifestation and visualisation to prepare for games and build his confidence.
While some of Cole’s off-pitch antics, especially during his time at Chelsea, don’t necessarily fall into the same category, his on-pitch maturity, decision-making, and confidence in his ability cannot be questioned.
The fact that Cole went on loan to Crystal Palace at the start of 2000 to learn his trade and gain more experience reinforces this.
Indeed, he used the experience to return to Arsenal ahead of the 2000-01 season and make the starting left-back position his own.
Differences
Type of left-back
Tactical changes and advancements in the modern game mean Lewis-Skelly and Cole are different left-backs.
Cole fits the mould of a traditional, up-and-down full-back, contributing to Arsenal’s attacking play as a youngster and throughout his whole time at the club by providing width and overlapping his winger.
That takes nothing away from the former Champions League winner’s ability, however, with Cole coming to be regarded as one of the best full-backs of all-time and arguably the best full-back the Premier League has ever seen.
A deserved member of the Premier League Hall of Fame, even Thierry Henry has spoken glowingly of his former teammate in recent months, describing him as “outstanding” and the “best left-back I’ve seen” on the Stick to Football podcast.
By contrast to Cole, Lewis-Skelly inverts into midfield, contributing to Arsenal’s attacking play by giving Mikel Arteta’s side an overload in the middle of the park.
That helps the Gunners maintain better control of both the ball and the game.
Defensive ability
Despite playing in the same position, albeit with different roles, both are also of differing defensive ability.
Lewis-Skelly has been solid in his first season with the Arsenal first team, ensuring the club conceded the fewest number of top-flight goals of all 20 teams in the division and helping David Raya win his second consecutive Golden Glove award.
Of all Premier League defenders to have played 15 or more games, Lewis-Skelly was also the only one not to be dribbled past, a sign of his defensive ability.
Against better opposition, however, the young full-back showed signs of weakness defensively.
For example, some Arsenal fans criticised Lewis-Skelly in the aftermath of Arsenal’s second-leg defeat at PSG, with French media not too kind to the left-back, either.
At 18, and with just one senior campaign under his belt, the young defender has plenty of time to develop this side of his game.
On the flip side, there have rarely been any questions about Ashley Cole’s ability defensively.
Described by Cristiano Ronaldo as the ‘toughest opponent’ he has ever faced (according to Sky Sports), Cole’s ability both positionally and in one-vs-one situations was second to none.
Indeed, his defensive strength was evident not long after breaking into the Arsenal first team.
As a 21 and 22-year-old, Cole played 29 times in Arsenal’s double-winning campaign of 2001-02, helping his side keep 10 clean sheets and concede just 36 goals across the 38-game season.
Incidentally, Arsenal also went the whole campaign unbeaten away from home, a feat they would replicate both home and away in the famous 2003-04 Invincible season, in which Cole played 32 times.
In this department, then, Lewis-Skelly has work to do.
Yet, having committed his future to Arsenal for the foreseeable future, he is in good hands to continue his remarkable rise.
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