Arsenal fans stunned by Myles Lewis-Skelly as full stats revealed
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performance turned heads as Arsenal cruised to a statement win over Real Madrid.
Arsenal enjoyed a memorable night at the Emirates Stadium, dismantling the reigning European champions with a commanding 3-0 victory in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Declan Rice was the standout for Arsenal, netting two brilliant free-kicks to leave Madrid stunned, before Mikel Merino added a third with a sharp finish to send the Gunners to the Bernabeu with a commanding three-goal advantage.
But it was 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly who stole the spotlight for Arsenal, producing a mature and composed display at left-back.
The academy product became the second-youngest Englishman to start a Champions League quarter-final, following in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham in 2021.
Despite the occasion and calibre of the opposition, Lewis-Skelly looked unfazed. His intelligent positioning, composure on the ball and relentless work rate stood out against the likes of Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga, earning him praise from fans and pundits alike.
Myles Lewis-Skelly shines in Champions League clash with dominant all-round display amid breakout season
The 18-year-old didn’t get dribbled past once, won 100% of his tackles, claimed four ground duels, and provided the assist for Merino’s goal in what was a standout performance on the European stage.
| Match statistics | Myles Lewis-Skelly |
| Minutes played | 90′ |
| Possession won | 2 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Ground duels won | 4 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
Having only broken into the senior squad this season, the youngster has taken his opportunity with composure and confidence, continuing his incredible form across both domestic and European competitions.
Last month, Lewis-Skelly was rewarded with a senior England call-up and made the most of his debut by marking it with a goal. His rapid rise hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Arsenal will save millions thanks to the emergence of Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri—two academy talents showing maturity well beyond their years.
Arsenal fans stunned as Myles Lewis-Skelly locks down Rodrygo
Originally developed as a central midfielder, Lewis-Skelly has slotted into the left-back position with ease, making it his own in Arteta’s system.
His aggressive, high-energy style of play has occasionally left him vulnerable to officiating decisions. Most recently, when former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett claimed Lewis-Skelly was wrongly penalised in a recent clash against Everton.
But against Real Madrid’s star-studded attack of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo, it was Lewis-Skelly who came out on top, showing no signs of nerves on one of the biggest nights of his young career.
Arsenal fans flooded social media with praise after the final whistle. One fan posted: “MLS needs to be investigated, he’s too good for his age…” while another added: “An eighteen-year-old boy pocketing a world-class winger in a Champions League quarter-final match is crazy.”