Image may contain Lynden Trail Clothing Shirt Person Teen Face Head Photography and Portrait
Myles Lewis-Skelly's story is one every football club dreams of. A young, home-grown player emerges – seemingly from nowhere – to take their opportunity hungrily. Lightning in a bottle, but it’s something of a trend for Arsenal. Bukayo Saka laid the path for youth academy prospects to transform into senior player before they even exit their teens.
A London boy from Denmark Hill, Lewis-Skelly has been a Gunner since the age of eight and less than a decade later, he's already earned a couple of England caps, made his mark on the Champions League and stared down some of the biggest name in the game. It hasn’t been an easy journey; during his senior debut, a fiery 2-2 draw with Manchester City, Erling Haaland was seen screaming ‘Who the f*** are you?’ in Lewis-Skelly's direction. The next time they met, the 18-year-old scored in a 5-1 rout. His celebration? To mimic the big Norwegian’s Zen pose.
After a year of first moments and big theatre, Lewis-Skelly is very hungry, still learning and ready for his first full Arsenal campaign. Ahead of the new season, we arrive in a North London warehouse for the filming of the new Highbury-inspired 2025/26 Adidas third kit reveal to talk to the star about his and Arsenal's expectations for the season ahead and what it’s like wearing the club's latest drip.
GQ: With your Gunners debut, a couple of England caps and going deep in the Champions League, last season was a big one for you in particular. Can you describe what it was like?
Myles Lewis-Skelly: It was a whirlwind. I’ve loved playing the big moments and progressing with the team. It’s not all ups, though. I’ve experienced a lot of tough moments, which I’ve had to embrace. But I enjoyed my first season.
That step up from Youth Academy project to first-team player must have been difficult.
I wouldn’t say it’s been hard for me, because of the people I have around me. The culture that Mikel [Arteta] has instilled in the players and staff – even people not associated with the club – has helped to make it a very smooth process.
Your mum has also been a huge part of your rise, right?
Right from when I was young, you know? I remember touching on this before with her, instilling a strong mentality and helping me understand psychology. I’m all about gratitude and am a believer in journalling and positive affirmations. She always told me to believe in myself, be humble, stay grounded and always be curious.
That’s so important for you as a young player.
My dad is still teaching me so many lessons that I try to implement every day. I keep asking questions. I keep trying, and I want to get better. I’m passionate, and all I want to do is win. If I don’t win, I won’t lie, I’m a sore loser. If I can rile up the crowd and get them behind us, I’m ready. Whatever I can do to help us get there, I’ll do it.
Who has been the biggest help to you in the squad?
I’ll definitely say Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka definitely. Dec is a sensational leader, someone who knows what to say at the right moment every time. Bukayo had a similar journey to mine, so I’ve been asking him a lot of questions about how it’s been for him and what helped him.
Are you two close?
Yeah, really close. We talk a lot, and he is honest with me and explains how he feels about how I perform on the pitch or about a certain play, and I can understand it so much quicker coming from him.
You’ve had to learn pretty quickly, though.
I’d say that’s one of my super strengths. My ability to take in information quickly and process it has helped the team recognise my skills. I know where I need to be and what I should expect from another player to do in a situation, and it all comes from practice and watching other great players.
What is Arteta like to work with?
Demanding and in the best way. He holds you to a high standard, and if you don’t meet that standard, he’s going to let you know about it. You can’t get away with being silly in training; you’ve got to be on your A-game and apply yourself.
Do you enjoy training, if it’s that intense?
Training is so important as a player, because it’s where you build a foundation. That’s where you lay the soil for your game, and everything you see on the weekend on the pitch comes from that, so I take it seriously. The whole team are always so competitive, but it helps keep that mindset through into the game.
What do you think of this season’s new Adidas kit?
There are some hidden details that maybe true fans will spot. I won’t give away too much, but if you pay attention, you can notice. It’s a retro kit, makes me think of Highbury. I was born in 2006, so it’s historical for me, but it’s a nice style.
Do you have a favourite kit from Arsenal’s history?
It’s from 2004, says Fabregas on the back. I remember kicking the ball around my garden with that kit on, and I accidentally kicked the ball over the fence and lost it. My mum killed me!
Are you a big kit head?
I can admire a nice kit, I liked a lot of Premier League kits [from last season], but I think Arsenal’s is special. I like fashion and I like to look good and feel good, on and off the pitch, so they’ve done well this year. I love wearing the same kit as the fans – it means you’ve got that connection. I want to give back to the fans and keep pushing, and the kit helps me feel like we’re all one.
It must make you proud to step onto the pitch wearing it.
It means everything, honestly. I’m an Arsenal fan too, at the end of the day, and I feel a connection to the crowd when we score or when I make a big tackle. We have so much pent-up frustration from last season, we’ve got a lot of fuel going into this year, and if we can control that in the right way and keep our heads, then I know we can deliver.
Off the pitch, what do you do to unwind?
I keep active. I’ve got really into tennis, both playing and watching, and I’ve got really into Padel recently. It just helps me get that competitive energy out. I also like to read, and I’m always learning. I enjoy reading about psychology, and I think 70 percent of my game comes from being strong mentally. I journal, write out my thoughts and try to understand them, which helps me focus when I play.
Going into the new season, what do you want to work on to improve your game?
As a fullback I want to build out and improve the attacking elements of my game. At the same time our defensive solidity is important as a foundation for the team. I have to keep working hard on all elements of my game. I have a lot of confidence going into the new season and I know we're going to do everything we can, I can feel it.