Myles Lewis-Skelly is a north London boy, born and bred, and he approached his first north London derby with all the passion and snarling aggression that one would expect of a young man who has been schooled in the importance of this rivalry. No player on the pitch embraced the occasion with as much gusto as Arsenal’s formidable 18-year-old, who is rapidly becoming a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium.

Lewis-Skelly has already proven this season that he is not the shy type. On his Premier League debut, against Manchester City, he squared up to Erling Haaland at the full-time whistle. After victory over Tottenham Hotspur here, he celebrated as wildly as any Arsenal player, pumping his fists at the crowd and kissing the badge on his shirt.

Lewis-Skelly had certainly earned the right to milk the occasion, given the quality of his performance on the left side of Arsenal’s defence. To think, this is not only his first season as an Arsenal first-team player but also his first season as a left-back. Throughout his academy career, which started when he joined the club at under-nine level, he was a midfield player. Versatility, evidently, is among his numerous qualities as a footballer.

For some Arsenal fans, his tigerish performance would have triggered memories of a young Ashley Cole.

There can be no overstating the amount of physical courage and technical quality that Lewis-Skelly displayed on the biggest night of his professional life. No Arsenal player won more than his three tackles, and no player on either team regained possession more frequently. At times he moved like the bully on the playground, simply snatching the ball off players such as Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson.

“He was unbelievable,” said Declan Rice, the Arsenal midfielder. “For 18 years of age, to be playing how he is, it is just ridiculous. The young players now have no fear, none whatsoever.”

Lewis-Skelly was the first 18-year-old to start a north London derby for Arsenal in the Premier League since Cesc Fabregas in 2005. That was a year before Lewis-Skelly was even born, which is an indication of how rare it is for a young player to be ready for an occasion like this. His selection was not enforced by injury, either: Mikel Arteta picked him ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Jakub Kiwior, all internationals and all on the bench.

“It is very rare to see,” said Arteta. “Eighteen years old, playing against Kulusevski and Johnson in a big London derby for the first time, performing with that composure, with that attitude and control emotionally.

“He makes everybody at the club very proud. He has been in our system for a long time. We have to pick them in the moment they are ready. With him he was ready very early, and in a different position. He has never played as a full back before.”

Commentating on television, an admiring Rio Ferdinand said of Lewis-Skelly: “I love seeing young kids come in and treat it like a game at school.”

Watching this performance from the stands was Thomas Tuchel, the England manager. Left-back is a problem position for England and, while these are still early days for Lewis-Skelly, it would not be a surprise if he features in the next international squad.

It was Lewis-Skelly who helped to change the course of this match after Spurs had taken the lead against the run of play. Crunching into a thumping tackle near the halfway line, the teenager started the move that ultimately led to the corner from which Arsenal struck their equaliser.

If the most striking aspect of Lewis-Skelly’s performances this season has been his personality, then his second most impressive quality is the ability to shield possession under intense pressure. A feature of his campaign has been the sight of opposition players flailing behind him, unable to reach the ball as the youngster uses his arms and back to hold them off.

“Four or five times in the second half he used his body to get away from someone,” said Rice. “It is risky but to show that personality and character at 18 is unbelievable.”

Arsenal have long known that Lewis-Skelly was a special talent. A regular at England youth level, he played for Arsenal’s under-18s when he was only 14. He has come through the ranks along with Ethan Nwaneri, the other great young hope of Arteta’s squad, who was missing through injury here.

With Bukayo Saka also absent through injury, Lewis-Skelly was the only academy graduate on the pitch for Arsenal. He was, therefore, the only player who grew up with this rivalry and knows what it truly means for people in this part of London. He played like a man who understood the magnitude of the occasion, embracing the emotion of it without ever losing his cool.