It has never been a straightforward journey for Myles Lewis-Skelly into the Arsenal first team.
The 19-year-old’s development has been rapid since his breakthrough in the 2024-25 season – he took his chance when injury was rife in the Arsenal squad to become one of the best young full-backs in the Premier League.
That form led to him breaking into the England squad and, in March 2025, Lewis-Skelly became the youngest man to score on England debut when he claimed the opener in a 2-0 win against Albania at Wembley.
A few months later, the academy graduate was rewarded with a new five-year contract.
What was most impressive about his breakthrough is that left-back is not even Lewis-Skelly’s natural position.
The teenager came through Arsenal’s Hale End academy as a midfielder and has always maintained that is his best position, even if the role of full-back provided him the platform to showcase his talents in the Gunners’ first team.
The attributes that show why he was so highly rated during his time in the academy were easy to spot, even while starting in Arsenal’s back four.
His ability to invert into midfield, protect the ball in tight spaces and burst away from opposition players are up there with some of the best in the division.
However, despite such a strong finish to his first campaign, last season was much more of a test for the teenager.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori, who Arsenal signed for £42m in 2024, regained his fitness and the Italy international’s versatility and maverick nature when going forward plays such a big part in the team’s attack.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta also brought in defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen on loan with an option to buy, which the club have now turned into a permanent deal.
With both players older and carrying more experience than Lewis-Skelly, minutes were hard to come by for the youngster.
Arteta said himself he had been “tough” on Lewis-Skelly.
But with Martin Zubimendi’s performances fading towards the end of last season, Lewis-Skelly was finally given a chance to showcase his ability in midfield against Fulham – with four games of the Premier League campaign remaining.
His performance was so good that Lewis-Skelly then started all but one game in the end of season run-in, as Arsenal won the Premier League title and were beaten by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final.
