Arsenal continue to show the strength of their academy and North London now has a new star. Just seven games into his Premier League career, Myles Lewis-Skelley has already announced himself on the biggest stage.

The 18-year-old is unbeaten in his seven appearances so far and took things up a notch for his first derby day against Tottenham. Boiling it down to numbers doesn't do him justice but the bottom line is so very impressive.

Across 90 minutes, Lewis-Skelley diligently dealt with the threat of Spurs danger man Dejan Kulusevski, winning four tackles and not being dribbled past. He won five out of seven of his ground duels, intercepting twice and completing two clearances.

At the back he was strong and controlled whilst in possession he anchored the left side and allowed Declan Rice to surge forward. Supported by Gabriel Magalhaes to his left, Lewis-Skelley's biggest success is not looking out of place.

In fact, he did so much more. This was a genuinely impactful game from the Hale End graduate. He went beyond just occupying a role and a space. Instead, he asserted himself on the toughest of games given the atmosphere and animosity.

Lewis-Skelley handled himself with maturity and demonstrated the sort of composure that has seen Mikel Arteta elevate him into a youth option for his senior team already. Not many get this sort of treatment but when they do, it means something special.

The players to be granted this level of responsibility in recent years is pretty much left at Bukayo Saka and now Ethan Nwaneri. These are not everyday talents, and what makes the rise of Lewis-Skelley perhaps more exciting is that he is entering a team primed to win and competing at the top.

Saka was a standout in a poor setup who were plunged into turmoil. Lewis-Skelley has slotted seamlessly into something elite. Both have specific challenges but it is quite the settling period for someone so junior in the grand scheme.

And what this does for Arsenal cannot be understated. Both on and off the field, Lewis-Skelley is making things easier. Not only is he relieving pressure on Riccardo Calafiori - who is yet to fully find his feet due, largely, to fitness issues - but also providing a reliable platform for others to now abandon.

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With plenty of options at the back it is no surprise to see Arsenal considering the future of at least three of the current players. Oleksandr Zinchenko has been linked again with an exit - Borussia Dortmund are said to be interested in him - whilst Jakub Kiwior has been on the out list for much of the past 12 months.

Kieran Tierney's return has provided cover when needed after injuries hit the squad but his place in the short-term is not in north London, let alone long-term. Celtic are in talks to take him back to Scotland.

Sales for any of these three would be a welcome boost to the finances - which are not under any real pressure anyway - ahead of a crucial end to the January window and an even more important summer one. Arsenal's need to buy a new forward, and possibly two, has been well documented. That can happen without selling players but is surely only helped if exits are completed.

Losing any two, or even three, of Tierney, Kiwior, and Tierney would have previously left Arsenal short - especially with Takehiro Tomiyasu still unavailable and needing careful management to get back into the team on a regular basis. With Lewis-Skelley there to take over, that risk is nowhere near as profound.

He provides certainty and quality in abundance which may not only save Arsenal millions in finding an upgrade but can also be put towards any of their summer targets. Be that in going beyond £50million for Benjamin Sesko, £60million for Nico Williams, £70million for Viktor Gyokeres, £80million for Victor Osimhen, or above £100million in the most ambitious swoop of them all for Alexander Isak, any cash Lewis-Skelley conserves plus potential sales for his teammates will be vital in making a dream the reality.