Myles Lewis-Skelly showcased why he’s earning the trust of Mikel Arteta as he made his second consecutive Premier League start for Arsenal on Saturday. The 18-year-old featured ahead of seasoned players like Kieran Tierney, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jakub Kiwior, all of whom were left on the bench.

While some might have doubted Arteta’s decision to start the youngster, Lewis-Skelly quickly silenced any skepticism with a composed and influential display. During his 58 minutes on the pitch, he completed 18 of his 19 passes, won five out of seven duels, earned two free-kicks, and successfully executed his only attempted dribble. However, his impact extended well beyond the stats.

With senior defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba struggling in possession, Lewis-Skelly’s composure under pressure proved pivotal. Despite relentless pressing from Crystal Palace, his ability to keep Arsenal in control of the ball stood out as remarkable for someone his age.

High Praise for the Young TalentSky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher was effusive in his praise, observing, “He doesn’t look like an 18-year-old kid, does he?” Meanwhile, teammate Jurrien Timber referred to Lewis-Skelly as a “young king” in an Instagram comment, acknowledging the youngster’s exceptional maturity and performance.

Fans have begun drawing comparisons between Timber and Lewis-Skelly, noting their shared ability to hold their ground against physical challenges despite a smaller stature compared to players like Gabriel or Saliba. Both possess exceptional agility and a sharp eye for a pass, further highlighting the promising similarity between the two.

Lewis-Skelly’s early performances signal a bright future, as he continues to impress on one of football’s biggest stages.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The expectation is still that Calafiori will come back into the side once he’s fully fit. The Italian international got 32 minutes of the Palace game and provided an assist for Declan Rice, so he played his part in the result as well.

Lewis-Skelly is also a midfielder by trade, so he won’t necessarily expect to keep playing at left-back forever anyway.

The good news is that Arsenal aren’t totally reliant on throwing Calafiori back in and risking another injury setback. Lewis-Skelly is proving they have a strong alternative when called upon.