Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Opinion
Mikel Arteta has a youngster at Arsenal who is already one of the best players in his position in the world
Arsenal are famed for producing incredible young players — from Tony Adams to Bukayo Saka.
Under Arsene Wenger in particular, a key cog of the Gunners’ values became bringing through talented youngsters into the first-team and nurturing them into becoming superstars.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side consistently features two outstanding young prospects in Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
Both Englishmen are having breakout seasons and it would not be outlandish to suggest that they play a vital role in the North Londoners’ quest to dominate English football in years to come.
But Myles Lewis-Skelly in particular looks like the real deal.
- READ MORE: Myles Lewis-Skelly shares what Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta does that he finds so ‘fascinating’
Myles Lewis-Skelly is one of the best left-backs in the world
Alan Shearer labelled Lewis-Skelly as “outstanding” and his recent exploits in the Champions League against Real Madrid were an indicator that he could already be one of the best left-backs in the world.
Lewis-Skelly’s competition includes the likes of Nuno Mendes, Alejandro Balde, Alphonso Davies and Josko Gvardiol.
The aforementioned quartet are far from experienced than the Hale End academy graduate and would perhaps fairly be considered a level above him.
But aside from them, Lewis-Skelly does not have much competition and breaking down his game, it is easy to see why.
Arsenal know how tremendous Lewis-Skelly is as first things first, he is a top-class technician, blessed with an excellent first touch, the ability to dictate play from deep with his expansive range of passing, a wand of a left foot that makes the teenager a brilliant crosser and impressive close control.
Declan Rice predicted Lewis-Skelly to become a midfielder and due to being one by trade, the 18-year-old’s knack of breaking the lines when spotting runners and carrying the ball at will are facets of his game that come naturally to him.
Defensively as well, the highly-rated wonderkid is no slouch — having kept winger of the ilk of Rodrygo Goes and Dejan Kulusevski quiet — as he does not hesitate to get touch-tight on widemen, use his body intelligently when he steps on to the front foot and timing his challenges to perfection.
While tactically as well, Lewis-Skelly possesses the footballing brain to be able to adapt to when Mikel Arteta instructs him to drift into midfield or stay out wide — early signs of what makes him the complete left-back as his game is more well-rounded than most.
Myles Lewis-Skelly could play in a different position for Arsenal vs PSG
Arteta revealed that Lewis-Skelly could play in midfield against PSG due to Thomas Partey being suspended for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final — which shows how much faith the Arsenal boss has in him already.
Mikel Arteta recently stated: “Yeah, he can play as an eight, he can play as a six. He’s played there before many times and he has the qualities to do that.”
Arteta was also asked whether Lewis-Skelly could replace Partey full-time but he shut down the prospect of that being the case: “I wouldn’t go that far. I think for now, and what he’s providing to the team and the needs that we have and the role that we have as a full-back, probably yes.
“But he stepped in midfield the other day and he looked very, very comfortable. He’s played his whole career and he’s good.”
“Another player that can play different positions at the highest level. So, very good news.”