Arsenal have made quite a name for themselves in recent years when it comes to giving youth a chance.
Bukayo Saka came through the ranks at Arsenal to become a world-class player for club and country, and now other starlets are breaking into the first team.
On Wednesday, Myles Lewis-Skelly became the latest Hale End graduate to burst onto the scene on the big stage, with Arsenal fans raving about Lewis-Skelly’s display.
At 18 years and 76 days old, he became the youngest Arsenal player to start in the Champions League since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in September 2011.
Lewis-Skelly went on to deliver an impressive display for Arsenal, which included a superb pass through the lines in the lead-up to Saka’s opener.
Indeed, French media outlets also picked up on Lewis-Skelly’s superb performance as they delivered their verdicts on how they felt the Gunners gem did against Monaco.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Ph...
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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Footmercato gave Lewis-Skelly a 7 out of 10 rating for his efforts against the Ligue 1 side.
‘Decisive on the first goal with his good opening which created a breach in the Monaco defense,’ they began.
‘The 18-year-old perfectly returned the trust granted by his coach by delivering a performance full of personality.
‘Defensively, the midfielder by training did not struggle in his role as a left-back and perfectly knew how to contain a discreet Akliouche.’
Likewise, Maxifoot went with a rating of 7 out of 10 and wrote: ‘For this Champions League match, Mikel Arteta chose to line up this 18-year-old midfielder at left-back.
‘It wasn’t a gift. And yet, the young Gunner responded perfectly! His ability to find passes between the lines, even under pressure, did his team good.
‘He easily eliminated Akliouche before providing the decisive passer Gabriel Jesus on the first goal. We’ll surely see him again.’
Le Foot En Bref completed a hat-trick of 7s for Lewis-Skelly in wake of his display against Monaco.
‘Thrust into the line-up amid an injury crisis, the academy graduate rose to the challenge,’ they wrote.
‘It was his bravery to take on his man who created Arsenal’s opener while Maghnes Akliouche and Vanderson were subdued going forward and struggled to get the better of Lewis-Skelly.’
What Bukayo Saka has said about Lewis-Skelly
Saka told TNT Sport after the game that Lewis-Skelly belongs at the highest level, and told him as much in the build-up to the match.
“What he’s doing, we see it in training,” said the England international. “I was pleased with him, he was a big part of the first goal.”
Saka then shared what Lewis-Skelly needs to do to build on his impressive display against Monaco.
“He’s very bright,” he said. “He just needs to keep the same head that he’s got.
“His mentality is top, he’s always asking questions, eager to learn. I’m so proud of him.”
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