Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice respond to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Arsenal message
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s stock continues to rise at Arsenal as they returned to Premier League action with a win over Fulham.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners came back firing after the international break to keep up the pressure on Liverpool at the summit, edging their London rivals 2-1 with goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka.
Saka’s goal to put Arsenal 2-0 up was a huge milestone for the 23-year-old, scoring less than seven minutes after coming off the bench to complete his comeback from a three-month injury layoff.
Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes’ injuries have somewhat overshadowed the instant impact made by Saka upon his own return, but heading into a make-or-break run-in, the Gunners are hitting top form.
Lewis-Skelly’s message sparks reaction from Arsenal stars
With Ethan Nwaneri starting following a successful international break with England’s Under-21s, and Saka coming off the bench to replace him and score, Arsenal’s academy products are in rude health.
The best example of that statement this season has been Myles Lewis-Skelly; also returning from international duty with the England senior side having started and scored in Thomas Tuchel’s first match.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Clean Sheets | Yellow/Red Cards |
| Myles Lewis-Skelly | 30 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5/2 |
Lewis-Skelly took to Instagram at full-time (1 April) to show his thanks after Arsenal’s victory, with Saka and Declan Rice both liking the post, as well as academy products Tommy Setford and Josh Nichols.
The 18-year-old’s new team-mates on England duty; Anthony Gordon, Dominic Solanke, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers also liked the post, capping off two weeks to remember for Arsenal’s number 49.
Myles Lewis-Skelly here to stay for Arsenal
Arsenal’s plethora of left-sided defenders – despite Gabriel being linked with a move to Al-Nassr – means it’s unlikely Arteta will want additions to be made in this area of the pitch come the summer.
Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney are all international left-backs, but you’d struggle to find a Gunners fan who’d pick any of them above Lewis-Skelly in the starting XI at present.
Football Insider revealed that a striker such as Wolves’ Matheus Cunha is top of the priority list for Arsenal this summer, but given the rate at which their academy products are developing, who knows which teenage striker could be playing ahead of him next season.