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Myles showing why he could be Arsenal's first choice midfielder for the reminder of the campaign.
There was a moment midway through Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham where Myles Lewis-Skelly demanded the ball under pressure, spun away from two midfielders and burst through the centre of the pitch with complete confidence. A few days later against Atlético Madrid, he did it again on one of football's biggest stages. Suddenly, what once looked like an emergency midfield solution is beginning to look like something far more important.
For all the excitement around Lewis-Skelly as a youth player, many inside Arsenal have long believed his best position would eventually be in central midfield. Interestingly, though, the player himself has often preferred central defence. He enjoys reading the game from deeper positions, stepping into duels and controlling the tempo from the back. But over the last two matches, Arteta has trusted him higher up the pitch and the results have been impossible to ignore.
Against Fulham he brought energy and unpredictability to Arsenal's midfield. Against Atletico Madrid he added composure, aggression and bravery in possession. Most importantly, he offered something Arsenal have slightly lacked in recent weeks: acceleration through central areas.
Part of that has been down to the workload carried by Martin Zubimendi. The Spaniard has been outstanding for much of the season, but there is no escaping the reality that the minutes have piled up. Across all competitions, Zubimendi has already played more than 4,300 minutes this season for club and country. Arsenal's demanding schedule, combined with the intensity of Arteta's system, was always likely to take a physical toll eventually.
That is where Lewis-Skelly's youthfulness becomes such a weapon. He does not just move the ball quickly, he moves himself quickly. His bursts through midfield have given Arsenal a different dynamic against deep blocks. Teams that sit compact against Arsenal are often prepared for patient passing patterns around the edge of the area. What they struggle with is a midfielder driving directly through the middle at speed.
It changes the geometry of Arsenal's attack entirely. Suddenly defenders are forced to step out. Passing lanes open. Wingers receive the ball facing goal instead of standing still against two defenders. The knock on effect has been obvious in the past two games.
There is also an edge to Lewis-Skelly's game that Arsenal supporters immediately connect with. He plays with confidence bordering on arrogance, but in the best possible way. He wants responsibility. He wants the difficult pass. He wants the atmosphere and pressure that come with big moments.
That makes what he has gone through this year even more impressive.
It has not been an easy season behind the scenes. Injuries disrupted his momentum at key moments and there were genuine questions about where he fit in the first team picture. Rumours around a potential £50 million sale began to circulate earlier this year as several top European clubs monitored his situation closely. Some believed Arsenal could be tempted given the financial realities of squad building and Profit and Sustainability concerns.
But those suggestions always felt disconnected from how highly Arteta rates him internally.
After the Atletico Madrid victory, Arteta was visibly emotional speaking about Lewis-Skelly's journey back into the side. The Arsenal manager described him as someone who had 'suffered a lot this season' and praised his mentality during difficult periods away from the team. He also highlighted the courage Lewis-Skelly showed to perform in such demanding matches after such a frustrating year.
You could sense genuine pride in Arteta's voice.
And perhaps that explains why the idea of Arsenal selling him now feels almost impossible. Players like Lewis-Skelly are not just squad assets. They represent the identity Arsenal are trying to build. Academy graduates with elite technical quality, tactical intelligence and emotional connection to the club are increasingly rare at the very highest level.
More importantly, Arsenal may have stumbled across something tactically significant here.
Arteta has spent years building a side capable of controlling matches through structure and positional play. But elite football increasingly demands moments of chaos too. The ability to break a game open with power, pace and unpredictability from central midfield is becoming invaluable against organised defensive systems.
Lewis-Skelly gives Arsenal that.
There is still development ahead of him, of course. His positional discipline will improve. His decision making in transition moments will sharpen. He may yet end up back in defence long term. But right now, in this current Arsenal side, he looks like a player capable of adding something different precisely when Arsenal need it most.
The timing could hardly be better.
With Arsenal chasing both the Premier League title and Champions League glory, squad freshness and tactical flexibility are becoming decisive factors. Zubimendi cannot play every minute. Declan Rice cannot carry every transition phase alone. Arsenal needed another midfielder capable of changing the rhythm of games.
They may have had one in Hale End all along.
Written by Ketan Patel
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