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Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a masterful midfield performance against Fulham, finally getting his chance in central midfield after Mikel Arteta admitted he had “been tough” on the 19-year-old this season.
The Hale End graduate was only told he would start in place of Martin Zubimendi when the players arrived at the Emirates, but immediately took control of the game. He won more duels than any Arsenal player and kept the team ticking with neat passing and forward-thinking play.
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“Inside I was buzzing, but I was just glad the manager put his trust in me to play in midfield,” Lewis-Skelly told Sky Sports after the comfortable victory. “That’s the boss, I’m grateful for him. That shows our connection is strong.”
Arteta explains his caution
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Despite Lewis-Skelly coming through the academy as a midfielder, Arteta had resisted giving him opportunities in the centre of the park this season. The teenager has made 31 appearances but played around 1,000 fewer minutes than in his breakthrough campaign, when he rose from academy prospect to full England international.
According to [Arseblog News](https://arseblog.news/2026/05/lewis-skelly-delighted-to-answer-call-as-arteta-finally-rolls-dice/), Arteta admitted his approach had been deliberate: “He had a spectacular season last year when he jumped into the first team, but he had some difficult moments after that. He stayed very humble, very focused, very aligned with what we wanted to do, and I knew he was ready.”
When asked why it took so long to play Lewis-Skelly in midfield, Arteta was characteristically honest: “Because probably I don’t have a clue, and maybe I should have done it earlier, I don’t know. But I have to do things when I believe that the player is ready, the team is ready, and the opponent is the right one.”
Mental toughness pays off
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Lewis-Skelly’s reduced role had led to speculation about a potential summer departure, but the youngster maintained his professionalism throughout the challenging period.
“I pride myself on being mentally tough,” he explained. “In this journey, there are ups and downs, it’s how you view them, as setbacks or stepping stones. For me, it’s staying ready, being a good teammate, and when I do everything right off the pitch, opportunities will come.”
The performance has given Arteta a selection headache ahead of Tuesday’s visit from Atletico Madrid. Martin Zubimendi has looked fatigued in recent weeks, having made 52 appearances and played over 4,000 minutes since his summer arrival from Real Sociedad.
Paul Merson praised Lewis-Skelly’s impact on Sky Sports: “He’s given Mikel a major headache because he gave you that energy. He lifted everybody, he played on the front foot, he got close to people.”
Arsenal’s academy graduate has now positioned himself as a genuine option for the run-in, potentially offering the fresh energy the team has needed during a crucial period of the season.