Miles Lewis-Skelly left the pitch to a standing ovation.
Arsenal fans chanted: “49, 49, Lewis Skelly, playing Arsenal style football”. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
It wasn’t just his performance in the Champions League semi-finals. This will be his second time starting in central midfield for the first team. It was an incredible story for the 19-year-old who gave Arsenal the energy, drive and determination to lead them to the final in Budapest on May 30th.
And in the end, Lewis-Skelly’s arrival at such a crucial stage of the season not only gave the team momentum, but may also have changed the direction of his Arsenal career.
Lewis-Skelly was a surprise addition to Arsenal’s midfield against Fulham on Saturday. Yes, he graduated from the academy as a midfielder, but he joined Arsenal’s first team and also broke into the England squad as a left-back.
read more: Leandro Trossard admits Arsenal’s priorities quickly changed after Atlético win
And this season was a very tough season. There was a time when he was third choice behind Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafioli. It was brutal and clearly affected him.
There were some games where he was forced to practice alone, without being allowed to join the team on the day of the game or on the bench. He didn’t get a kick after last season when he was one of the standout stories of the campaign.
Declan Rice mentioned it after Arsenal’s win over Atletico. How tough Mikel Arteta was on him. But so is how Lewis Skelly won this reprieve by not giving up, by going to the gym in the first place and by his attitude in training. His way of thinking is very strong.
Mikel Arteta admits he has been tough on Arsenal’s young players this season
But still, some fans would be lying if they said Lewis-Skelly didn’t fear the worst when he started against Fulham. But he was great. He moved forward, always looked forward, and made brave passes.
He started ahead of Spain international Martin Zvimendi, who has struggled to regain his confidence of late, but suddenly Arsenal now have a player who passes forward rather than to the side.
It was quite remarkable when Arteta fired straight at Lewis-Skelly after the final whistle against Fulham. There was a big hug. Arsenal have changed the atmosphere. They were playing well and Lewis Skelly was a game changer.
Having said that, it was still a big ask for manager Arteta to throw a teenage rookie in front of a Spanish player who had a proven track record in the European semi-finals.
But if they had beaten him, Lewis Skelly would have really been back on track. That’s why Arteta has placed his trust in the academy graduate. That’s why Arsenal felt that energy, positivity and connection on Tuesday night.
“I think I was tough on him,” Arteta admitted in his post-match press conference. “And he’s been very tenacious and consistent in his actions, always knocking on the door to earn the right to play. I think he deserves it and that’s why he played.”
Lewis Skelly impressed once again in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield (Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
True football fans will know how much they love their homegrown hero, who is an academy graduate and understands the supporter base very well. Its connection to Lewis Skelly is fascinating.
After the game, he celebrated with his grandma and posted a video on social media of him doing a victory dance with his mother, Marcia.
What a great story! He also did a great job against Atlético. His signature move is to put pressure on the ball, stick his butt out to protect the ball, and then look forward. Always be positive. This boy was doing it to an experienced European campaigner. And without fear.
It was an enjoyable story. There was talk about Lewis-Skelly and whether he would be sacrificed this summer. One homegrown youngster may be sold. I can’t even imagine it being him now. He can play as a left-back. He can dominate the midfield. And he brings positivity.
He may have just given Arsenal the boost they needed to continue their season, break records and become legends themselves in the process.
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