Declan Rice And Mikel Arteta Commend Myles Lewis-Skelly After Impressive Derby Day Debut

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Myles Lewis-Skelly's remarkable performance in Arsenal's victory over Tottenham in the north London derby drew praise from Declan Rice and Mikel Arteta. Playing only his fourth Premier League match this season, Lewis-Skelly impressed on the left side of defence. At 18 years and 111 days, he became Arsenal's second-youngest starter in a north London derby, following Cesc Fabregas, who played at 17 during the 2004-05 season.

Lewis-Skelly faced Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson, two key players for Spurs who have scored 13 of their 43 Premier League goals this season. Despite this challenge, he limited them to just one successful dribble between them. Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the young player's performance in an unfamiliar position, highlighting his composure and emotional control.

In the match against Tottenham, Lewis-Skelly achieved joint-highest tackles (three) alongside Jurrien Timber and interceptions (two) with Thomas Partey. His passing accuracy was an impressive 93.9%, second only to Rice among Arsenal starters at the Emirates Stadium. Late in the game, Oleksandr Zinchenko replaced him, receiving applause from home fans for his outstanding display.

Arteta noted how rare it is for an 18-year-old to perform with such composure and attitude against players like Kulusevski and Johnson in a major derby. "He makes everybody at the club very proud," Arteta said. He also mentioned that Lewis-Skelly has been part of Arsenal's system for a long time and was ready early on, despite playing in a new position as a full back.

Declan Rice was equally impressed by Lewis-Skelly's fearless approach on the field. "The young boy Myles was unbelievable," Rice stated. He praised Lewis-Skelly's strength and ability to use his body effectively during the game, comparing him to Mousa Dembele. Rice highlighted that showing such personality and character at just 18 is truly remarkable.

The young player's performance not only showcased his talent but also demonstrated his potential to become a key figure for Arsenal in future matches. His ability to adapt to different positions and maintain high performance levels bodes well for his career development within the club.