Is Miles Lewis-Skelly the new Ashley Cole?

Arsenal have been blessed with an array of talent coming through their youth teams in recent years, and Lewis-Skelly is the newest name on Gunners fans lips. For many, Lewis-Skelly is the club's new Ashley Cole.

Ashley Cole, now retired, is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest left-backs, having won multiple league titles and earned 107 England caps in his illustrious career. Cole also was a Hale End (Arsenal academy) product who made his Arsenal debut at 18 after converting from a forward to an attacking left-back. Likewise, Lewis-Skelly joined Arsenal’s academy at age 8 and rose through the ranks as a midfielder, before being shifted to left-back just before his senior debut.

Ashley Cole: Cole was a natural left-back (formerly a youth striker) who became an attack-minded full-back in Arsenal’s early-2000s setup . In Arsène Wenger’s 4-4-2/4-3-3 system, Cole’s role was to provide width down the left flank by overlapping the winger and delivering crosses, while also fulfilling his defensive duties. He developed into a “fine all-round left back,” improving defensively while still attacking “with as much vigour as ever”. Cole typically hugged the touchline and made overlapping runs, as was common for full-backs of his era, rarely moving into central midfield areas during play. His tactical role was to neutralize the opponent’s right-wingers (something he did famously well, even against elite wingers) and contribute to Arsenal’s and later Chelsea’s attack from the wide left.

Miles Lewis-Skelly: Lewis-Skelly is also playing as a left-back, but in a modern tactical interpretation of the role. Having been a midfielder by trade, he is deployed as an inverted left-back under Mikel Arteta’s system. This means that in possession he often tucks into central midfield zones rather than staying exclusively wide. Arsenal intentionally groomed him for this role in the academy once they saw the first team moving toward an Oleksandr Zinchenko-style inverted full-back system. Arteta has explained that he moved Lewis-Skelly to left-back because it fits the player’s qualities and the team’s needs, allowing him to get more minutes while using his midfield skillset “because we had necessities in the position”. From left-back, Lewis-Skelly steps into midfield to help Arsenal dominate possession, but he can also overlap and provide width when needed – effectively a hybrid role. This contrasts with Cole’s more traditional full-back duty, highlighting a tactical evolution.

In summary, Cole’s role was that of a quintessential overlapping left-back in a back four, whereas Lewis-Skelly operates as a left-back who frequently inverts into midfield. Despite this difference, both share the responsibility of patrolling the left flank defensively and contributing to build-up play – making the comparison apt in terms of their importance to team structure. Lewis-Skelly’s midfield background actually gives him a composure in central areas that adds a new dimension to the left-back role, something pundits have noted sets him apart as a modern heir to Cole’s position.

Although Lewis-Skelly's preferred position as a youth player is defensive midfield, manager Mikel Arteta has deployed Lewis-Skelly as an inverted full-back, much like Oleksandr Zinchenko had been playing in recent years for Arsenal. He has already caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has played Lewis-Skelly at left-back, with the player rewarding the German coach with a goal for his efforts. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta moved the player to left-back to fill a need and leverage his qualities. His quick adaptation and growth, especially physically last year, have been highlighted.

Lewis-Skelly's left-back role contrasts with Ashley Cole's attacking style. He's likened to Bellingham and Rooney, suggesting youthful energy and composure, hinting at potential midfield influences. This makes sense, considering his favourite position as a child was in attacking midfield, before his power caught the eye of Arsenal youth team coaches, and he dropped back into a more defensive role.

According to former defender Scott Minto, he sees Lewis-Skelly, 18, as a potential left-back star, akin to Ashley Cole, and is intrigued by one standout condition that could influence his progress. Lewis-Skelly's midfielder background aligns well with the inverted fullback role, considering his skills and the modern tactical alignment under teams like Arsenal.

There are many similarities to Ashley Cole, not just the obvious left-back position similarity, but even mapping Miles' path from the Arsenal academy through the FA Youth Cup to becoming a fan favorite and an England international, highlighting his rapid ascent and potential for development.

Yesterday, in Arsenal's emphatic 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, Miles Lewis-Skelly thrust himself into the limelight with an arrival to Europe akin to that of Jack Wilshere in the Champions League against Barcelona many years ago, such was the player's performance in that impressive win. He misplaced just 3 of 57 passes, and also made a key contribution with an assist for Mikel Merino's goal.

Lewis-Skelly, owing to his midfield upbringing, arguably has an even more refined technical skill set at 18 than Cole did at the same age. Pundit (and ex-Arsenal fan) Darren Bent observed that Lewis-Skelly is “better on the ball” than Ashley Cole was, highlighting the youngster’s smooth first touch and confidence in possession. He is very press-resistant: when tucked into midfield, he can operate in tight spaces and evade pressure. In fact, Opta data showed Lewis-Skelly has the highest passing accuracy in the Premier League under pressure (93.2 percent with an opponent within 3m) and overall he completed 248 of his first 260 passes (95.4 percent) an elite ball-retention stat. Bent praised “his touch, his little bit of arrogance… strong in possession”, noting that the teenager plays with a confidence beyond his years.

Looking ahead, will Lewis-Skelly follow a trajectory similar to Cole’s? If he remains at left-back, many think so. Scott Minto (former Chelsea defender) opines that Lewis-Skelly “could be England’s left-back for the next decade… He can be like an Ashley Cole” provided he continues on this path. The expectation is that he will cement himself as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back (as Cole once did by ousting Silvinho) and potentially become the long-term successor for England’s left-back spot, which has seen rotation due to others’ injuries.

As of now, Lewis-Skelly’s career progression — Arsenal breakthrough, becoming a teenage starter, and immediate England recognition — is ahead of the pace that Ashley Cole set at the same age. The challenge will be to maintain that progress and translate early potential into the kind of sustained success that Cole achieved.

In sum, expert opinion strongly supports the idea that Miles Lewis-Skelly has Ashley Cole-level potential. Pundits compare their attributes and see a player who, like Cole, could dominate the left-back position for club and country. The key differences noted are Lewis-Skelly’s superior midfield-derived skills and the decision awaiting him about sticking at left-back. The media perspective is that Arsenal may have finally found another gem at left-back who could emulate one of their own legends. That said, everyone acknowledges that calling someone the “next Ashley Cole” is a hefty label – it sets a benchmark of being the very best. The consensus is that Lewis-Skelly has the ingredients, but he will need to continue working hard.

Given what we know, will Miles Lewis-Skelly truly follow a similar trajectory to Ashley Cole? There are strong signs pointing in that direction in terms of footballing potential. At just 18, Lewis-Skelly is already performing at a level in the Premier League that few teenagers (especially defenders) ever reach. His blend of skills means he could become a more complete left-back than even Cole was – essentially a left-back who can also dictate play like a midfielder. If he remains in the position, he could redefine the role much like Cole set a standard in his time.

If he does stick at left-back, many at Arsenal believe “the sky is the limit” for him . He could captain the side one day, become a club legend, and – who knows – even perhaps surpass Cole’s legacy, which would mean being talked about among the best left-backs in football history. These are lofty goals, and only time will tell if he can stay on that path. Key will be managing expectations and pressure. Being labeled the “new Ashley Cole” sets a high bar and could weigh heavily, but Lewis-Skelly has so far shown a mentality that handles pressure well (after all, mimicking Erling Haaland’s celebration after scoring against City shows he isn’t afraid of the spotlight).

In conclusion, Miles Lewis-Skelly is widely viewed as a potential heir to Ashley Cole at Arsenal and for England. Both in playing style – a dynamic left-back with both defensive grit and attacking thrust – and in career progression – rapid rise from academy to senior international – the parallels are evident. While football has evolved since Cole’s era, the core qualities that made Cole great are appearing in Lewis-Skelly’s game: speed, skill, consistency, and big-game temperament. If Lewis-Skelly continues on his current trajectory and remains at left-back, there is a strong likelihood he will follow a similar successful path, perhaps becoming the best left-back of his generation. If his path diverges into midfield, he may chart a new course, but either way, his potential is sky-high. Arsenal fans and coaches see a future superstar in him, and comparisons to a club icon like Ashley Cole only underscore the level of talent he possesses.