Arsenal’s rising star Myles Lewis-Skelly left a lasting impression in their thrilling 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Declan Rice, one of Arsenal’s key players, couldn’t hold back his praise, describing the 18-year-old’s performance as “ridiculous” and “scary.”
The Gunners’ hard-fought win at the Emirates Stadium brought them within four points of league leaders Liverpool. Despite falling behind to a Son Heung-min goal, Arsenal bounced back.
A deflected corner off Dominic Solanke brought them level before Leandro Trossard’s clinical strike just before halftime sealed the win in the North London derby.
While the goals told part of the story, Lewis-Skelly was the standout performer for Mikel Arteta’s side. After the match, Rice couldn’t stop marveling at the young midfielder’s talent.
“The young boy Myles again is just unbelievable,” Rice told TNT Sports. “For 18, what he showed tonight is just ridiculous. It’s scary; these 18-year-olds now have no fear.”
Rice even likened Lewis-Skelly’s style to that of Moussa Dembele, noting his ability to use his body to navigate tight situations. “It’s risky at times, but to show that personality and character at 18 is just unbelievable,” Rice added.
The England midfielder also praised other young talents in the Premier League, like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Mikey Moore, highlighting the growing trend of fearless young players making an impact in the top tier.
When asked about Lewis-Skelly’s potential inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, Rice was optimistic. “He’s a midfielder by trade, but his versatility is impressive. Learning all this at 18 will only benefit him. Who knows what the future holds for him with England, but they clearly think highly of him.”
Arteta was equally impressed, lauding the teenager’s composure and resilience against a tough Spurs side. “He was phenomenal today,” Arteta said.
“His personality, self-belief, and attitude are exceptional. Handling players like Kulusevski and Johnson in such a high-stakes match was top-level.”
With performances like this, Lewis-Skelly is quickly becoming a name to watch in Arsenal’s bid for glory this season.