MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY laid down another marker in a breakthrough season as Arsenal hammered Real Madrid.
The left-back, whose Arsenal career started with a yellow card before he’d kicked a ball, has enjoyed a meteoric rise at the Emirates this term.
Myles Lewis-Skelly produced a sensational performance against Real Madrid[/caption]
The Arsenal star bagged an assist for Mikel Merino’s goal[/caption]
Merino fired home Arsenal’s third goal of the evening[/caption]
And on Tuesday night the England star put on arguably the most impressive display of his career so far as he dominated the European champions.
In Spain, the press are very much looking forward to the arrival of another top English full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, at Real Madrid this summer.
But this week the papers there were falling over themselves to praise Lewis-Skelly.
Commenting on a “mature” display, Mundo Deportivo wrote: “At just 18 years old, he put in a performance to remember, both in defence and attack.”
And Marca, praising his assist for Mikel Merino, commented: “Lewis-Skelly controlled the front, amazing in his mobility throughout the field, he put the pass into the area and with his left foot, Mikel Merino placed it next to the post.”
Meanwhile the stats showed that Lewis-Skelly had produced an attacking display very much reminiscent of Alexander-Arnold.
The stat that stood out the most showed that, despite being a left-back, Lewis-Skelly had played the vast majority of his football in the Real Madrid half.
During the match, Lewis-Skelly would manage 74 touches of the ball and complete a whopping 54 passes out of 57 attempted.
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And, as can be seen in the pass map, the left-back was not content merely to retain possession as he regularly attempted through balls and usually saw them come off.
In Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid will be signing a player known for being one of the best attacking full-backs in the world, but who has been plagued by claims that his defensive contribution has never been up to scratch.
However, as Lewis-Skelly marauded forward time and time again, there were few, if any, concerns about his defensive play.
The England starlet was tasked with keeping a watchful eye on in-form Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, which he did in exemplary fashion.
The Brazilian, who was one of the best players on the pitch when Real Madrid knocked out rivals Atletico, was kept quiet throughout the evening.
He managed just one touch in the Arsenal penalty area on a night where the front three of him, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe – all of whom have been touted as potential Ballon d’Or winners – was made to look distinctly average.
A pair of stunning Declan Rice free kicks set the Gunners on their way to a shock win over the European champions.
But it was Lewis-Skelly who rounded things off with a brilliant assist for Mikel Merino to give Mikel Arteta’s side a commanding 3-0 lead.
And if the Gunners are to defend that lead at the Bernabeu and round off a famous Champions League triumph, you suspect Lewis-Skelly will play a big part in it.