Myles Lewis-Skelly is Arsenal’s ‘special character’ who confronted Erling Haaland

In order to make it as a professional player at a club like Arsenal, a youngster must have two qualities. The first is exceptional footballing ability. The second is personality. In the unforgiving world of Premier League football, strength of character can be just as important as technical skill.

When it comes to young Myles Lewis-Skelly, the latest Arsenal academy graduate, there can be no doubt whether he possesses this mental fortitude. Much to the delight of the Arsenal supporters, he has already demonstrated it in the club’s shirt, by squaring up to Erling Haaland at the end of September’s feisty draw with Manchester City.

Haaland’s response was dismissive – he appeared to shout “who the f--- are you?” at Lewis-Skelly – but the Arsenal supporters lapped it up. The incident ensured that, even before his first start for the club, Lewis-Skelly was already being regarded as a cult hero, of sorts. This status was strengthened by the fact he was booked at the Etihad before even making his league debut from the bench.

On Wednesday night, a few months after that clash with Haaland, Lewis-Skelly became the youngest Arsenal player to start in the Champions League since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011. And as Arsenal swept past Monaco at the Emirates Stadium, it was their 18-year-old who unlocked the door in the first half. Lewis-Skelly’s turn in midfield, and subsequent pass to Gabriel Jesus, allowed Bukayo Saka to score the opening goal from which Arsenal never looked back.

For Lewis-Skelly to play with such personality would have been no surprise to those who have watched him grow. Within the club he is well known for his ferocious desire to win and his willingness to learn.

“He is a competitor,” Arteta has said of Lewis-Skelly. “You look at him, in every duel he goes, the way he reacts with his team-mates, you speak to him and it’s constant eye contact. He is nudging, asking questions. He is a special character.”

Saka, interviewed alongside his fellow academy graduate after the victory over Monaco, evidently sees something of himself in Lewis-Skelly. “This is his level,” Saka said. “He is very bright. He just needs to keep the same head that he’s got. His mentality is top, he’s always asking questions, eager to learn.”

Along with Ethan Nwaneri, the other top prospect of the Arsenal academy, Lewis-Skelly has long been regarded as one of the most promising young players in the English game.

Played for U18s when he was just 14

A measure of his ability is that he was playing for Arsenal’s under-18 team when he was just 14 (he and Nwaneri both debuted for the under-18s on the same night). He was only 11 when an agent first contacted his family, and only 12 when a sports brand called about a potential boot deal. The wider industry has seen him coming, and now the Arsenal fans are seeing him develop in front of their eyes.

Predominantly a midfield player in the academy, Lewis-Skelly has spent much of the past few months learning how to play as an inverted full-back in Arteta’s system. He excelled in the role on the club’s tour of the United States and has impressed Arsenal’s coaching staff with his ability to switch between different areas of the pitch.

“He can play in three positions,” said Arteta earlier this season. “As a left-back, as a six, as an eight. He is very versatile. He can occupy different spaces. He is very adaptable. That’s the good thing about Myles: he is very intelligent, very thorough. He has some unbelievable questions every time you ask him to do something, and he has the competitive edge which I think is demanded at this level.”

Lewis-Skelly, an Arsenal fan since he was a boy, joined the club’s academy at the under-nine level, having previously trialled at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. He already knew Nwaneri before joining Arsenal, and those two have journeyed through the ranks together. Both are regulars at England youth level.

Nwaneri generated more media interest after becoming the youngest player in Premier League history but there was a feeling among some at Arsenal, even after Nwaneri’s senior debut, that Lewis-Skelly was just as promising – if not even more promising – than his friend. Now, they are both pushing for a first-team place at the same time.

Despite the many similarities in their footballing journeys, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are described by sources as very different characters. Lewis-Skelly is the louder of the pair, more visibly confident off the field and more vocal around the training ground.

Mother studied football business to help son

Crucially, Lewis-Skelly has a solid family foundation behind him. His mother, Marcia, is a guiding force in his career and a woman who has worked hard to ensure that her son is not affected by the uniquely challenging nature of the footballing industry.

Such is her commitment to ensuring that Lewis-Skelly has the appropriate support, Marcia has studied for a master’s degree in football business and even launched an online platform – No 1 fan club – to help parents navigate the tricky world of youth football.

After Wednesday’s meeting with Monaco, Arteta was unequivocal in his assessment of Lewis-Skelly. “We can trust him,” said the Arsenal manager. “He has shown he is at the level.”

There can be no telling how many opportunities Lewis-Skelly will be given in the coming weeks and months, but there is no doubt that Arsenal have a youngster of significant talent and personality. He will need more chances, and there will undoubtedly be bumps in the road, but the world could see on Wednesday night why Arsenal are so excited by his potential.