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Jamie Carragher explains why Myles Lewis-Skelly reminds him of Wayne Rooney right after Arsenal vs Real Madrid

Srinivas Sadhanand

Tue 8 April 2025 23:07, UK

Arsenal gem Myles Lewis-Skelly demonstrated to the watching world why Mikel Arteta backed him to start against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final by producing a wondrous display.

Being just 18, it was certainly a risk for him to be thrown into the deep against a Real Madrid side that have won two Champions League titles in the past three seasons.

But Myles Lewis-Skelly seems to be nerveless at this point as he stood out amongst several superstars for both Arsenal and Real Madrid in the biggest game of his career — as Declan Rice’s two free-kicks and Mikel Merino’s late goal meant his boyhood club earned a victory for the ages.

Jamie Carragher lauded the young Lewis-Skelly and went on to compare him to two of the most talented young players England have arguably ever produced: Wayne Rooney and Jude Bellingham.

• READ MORE: Declan Rice says what England’s players were all saying about Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly after latest camp

Myles Lewis-Skelly likened to Wayne Rooney after Arsenal vs Real Madrid by Jamie Carragher

Carragher pinpointed that just like Rooney and Bellingham, Lewis-Skelly seems to ooze confidence and embrace responsibility — as was on show as he constantly demanded the ball from his Arsenal teammates against Real Madrid.

Jamie Carragher also explained that while youngsters tend to settle into the full-back position quite easily, Lewis-Skelly looks “spectacular” as one and it was proven against Real Madrid as he looked like one of Arsenal’s best players.

Carragher said on CBS Sports: “You talk about full-backs, you think of, at Liverpool, with Trent [Alexander-Arnold], they’re a little bit different, they’re not a normal full-back, you [Micah Richards] just mentioned what a young full-back would be. More often than not, if a young player comes through at a club, the easiest position to come through is probably full-back.”

“You did, I did that, you sort of bed yourself into the game because I’m not saying an easy position but you don’t have to spectacular if you like. But he’s spectacular at left-back and he looks like almost one of the best players in the Arsenal team. He’s gone into central midfield, he’s receiving the ball on the half-turn, he’s got [Kylian] Mbappe, Vini Jr either side of him. He’s taking responsibility and that’s where I go back to a bit of football arrogance.”

“And it’s not about position, it reminds me a little bit of Bellingham at that age, also Wayne Rooney. So, when Wayne Rooney first came into the England squad and I was in the squad, it was almost like, ‘I’m the best player, give me the ball.’ No fear, he’d take the ball in difficult situations where we were young players, you’d come in, you were like, you’d want to get your first pass in a game, don’t give the ball away, you’d almost want to build into a game, build your confidence, he’s got that thing where he’s 26 and he’s been playing all his life. Yeah, he’s very, very special.”

Myles Lewis-Skelly stats compared to Jude Bellingham after Arsenal vs Real Madrid

Compared to a legend of the game such as Wayne Rooney and another potential future icon such as Jude Bellingham by Jamie Carragher would delight Lewis-Skelly — whose mere hope heading into Arsenal’s clash against Real Madrid would have been a win.

However, Mikel Arteta would be fully aware that the teenager is just that good and merits such high praise.

On the night, Lewis-Skelly upstaged Bellingham as Arsenal annihilated Real Madrid and the statistics prove that.

Lewis-Skelly won more duels, had a better passing accuracy and was dribbled less times than Bellingham on Tuesday.

Despite playing as a left-back, the Arsenal wonderkid dominated the midfield when drifting into the middle of the park as well.

The Real Madrid superstar could only dream of doing so as he witnessed a coming-of-age performance from his fellow countryman.