It was some performance from Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 18-year-old has gone from academy prospect to first team regular this season and was a candidate for man of the match in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Wednesday.

Starting at left-back, the Hale Ender was composed on the ball and aggressive without it as he nullified Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson during his 87 minutes on the pitch. When he was taken off by Mikel Arteta, he received a standing ovation from the Arsenal faithful and it was completely deserved. As he walked round the pitch, having been pushed by Richarlison and shown a yellow card for wasting time, the teenager smiled at the fans chanting his name and clenched his first, knowing the job was done.

“I’m feeling every emotion possible; I’m on cloud nine," the teenager said after the match, as per Arsenal's official website. “I was a kid watching the derbies and know how much it means to the fans, it’s everything. To experience it today, I can’t stop smiling.

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“This game means more. I prepare the same, but it’s the feeling going into the game with the fans. You’ve got to give it everything and more. I’m happy I helped the team. The most important thing was getting the three points, building momentum and I’m happy with how I played.”

Making his 18th appearance of the season, Lewis-Skelly became the second-youngest Arsenal player to feature in a Premier League North London Derby, behind only Cesc Fabregas. Son Heung-min had put Spurs ahead after 25 minutes but a Dominic Solanke own goal, followed by a Leandro Trossard strike just before half-time, calmed the nerves inside Emirates Stadium.

The result leaves Arsenal in second place, just four points behind leaders Liverpool, with Lewis-Skelly admitting he could feel a momentum shift during the game on Wednesday night. “You feel some kind of momentum not on your side, and sometimes we have it,” he said. “But it’s important that as a team we stay together, and we hold each other accountable in these moments.

“We just had to hang on and make sure that we keep doing our basics well, keep communicating. We needed the fans in the last moments and they did that, so we’re grateful. We’re buzzing now, ready to go on and kick on now so good team morale. Thank you to Mikel for giving me the chance again, so I’m grateful. Onto the next one!”

With Riccardo Calafiori still out injured, Lewis-Skelly is expected to start at left-back against Aston Villa on Saturday. While Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko are fit and available, Arteta has continued to trust the teenager and the Spaniard is now is being rewarded. It makes it all the more impressive that Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder by trade.

“He makes everybody at the club very proud,” said Arteta. “He has been in our system for a long time. We know the kind of education that the academy is giving to our boys to get prepared, and 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, but is a joy to watch.

“It’s very rare to see an 18-year-old against Kulusevski and Johnson in a big London derby for the first time, perform with that composure, with that attitude, and that emotional control.”