Myles Lewis-Skelly returned to Arsenal and started against Fulham in their 2-1 win on Tuesday evening. It was a night overshadowed by the return of Bukayo Saka and the unfortunate injury suffered by Gabriel Magalhaes.
Yet, stripping away those headlines, for Myles it was yet another top performance from a player still only 18-years-old. Yes, there was perhaps an error which contributed to the Cottager’s late goal, although he was not helped much by teammate Jakub Kiwior either.
However, his overall performance against was what fans have come to expect. The noise of his controversial, or at least that is how some describe it, celebration against Manchester City when he mimicked Erling Haaland has since died down, mercifully.
That said, plenty was again dragged up when images surfaced of him gleefully entering the senior England squad. People made comments, criticised and effectively got offended over seemingly just the sight of the Arsenal starlet.
Speaking to former Arsenal defender and Invincible Sol Campbell courtesy of bet365, football.london asked him what his thoughts were around Lewis-Skelly’s scrutiny. Campbell will be on stage at Potters Field next to Tower Bridge on Saturday evening from 4pm with bet365, official betting partner of the UEFA Champions League, where the former Gunners centre-back will be hosting the Big Ticket Giveaway game giving fans the chance to win loads of prizes, including quarter-final tickets starting from next week.
Campbell was clear about his feelings and highlighted his disappointment at what he believes either boils down to jealousy and a lack of balance in the perspective - particularly from ex-players.
“When I look at this; I’m a bit disappointed about how ex-players have said certain things to him because of who he is, how he dresses, his tackles, everything about him, but when you look at him, he’s an unbelievable player,” Campbell said. “He does not deserve this criticism.
“Save that for the fans [to criticise him], or whatever. Haaland chucked the ball at Gabriel and nobody said anything about it.
“Haaland said to Arteta, ‘Be humble’ and no one said anything about it. Lewis-Skelly has done a celebration. It’s almost like they got it mixed up - there is tongue in cheek there, but he is almost paying homage to Haaland.
“Think about it. People have got off on the wrong foot here. He’s a London boy, he’s got character, look what he did with England on his debut.
“I think people, especially some of the ex-players, the stuff I’m hearing. I’m thinking ‘Are you thinking straight, or does someone else write it for you?’. You want that character.
“He’s not coming out of nightclubs, being drunk and falling down the stairs. Wake up. He’s a proper player. Don’t be jealous. He’s a proper player. He knows what he’s doing.
“He just needs a bit more experience but he is going to be around for a very long time, as long as he keeps his feet on the ground. You want that character.
“There’s a bit about him; a nice bit of arrogance about him. It’s not over the top. Look how he dresses, that is how boys dress now. They’re not coming into England wearing a suit and tie. Those days are gone.
“Have you seen the French team [what they’re wearing]? What is going on here? Wake up and stop this nonsense. It’s really sad. I get fans saying it, but when the ex-players say it, have a balanced argument about it. He is a proper player.”
Lewis-Skelly is now in with the chance not only of becoming both Arsenal and England’s new starting left-back, but he can take his game to an even greater height next week. Real Madrid come to town and he will be expected to start the match and help to shut down Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe.
The week after, he will be playing inside the infamous Bernabeu stadium… at 18! Campbell is right, and we need to start speaking more proudly of our best English talent and Lewis-Skelly is exactly that.