Myles Lewis-Skelly has quickly risen to prominence, making headlines with his recent debut for the England national team against Albania. The 18-year-old Arsenal defender has wowed observers with his surprising defensive prowess, as well as his ridiculous ability to stay calm in the moment. As he prepares to potentially become England's 11th-youngest player in the upcoming World Cup Qualifier against Albania, Lewis-Skelly's journey from academy prospect to international player is one of determination and talent.
Even at his young age, Lewis-Skelly has shown maturity beyond his years, especially in his defensive outings for Arsenal. He’s only committed 14 fouls in 26 senior appearances, evidence of his disciplinary and tactical awareness. Initially, Thomas Tuchel hesitated to include him in the team due to his age, but Lewis-Skelly's performances have shown that he is more than capable of handling the pressures of top-flight football.
The ability to be an excellent defensive player has been one of Lewis-Skelly’s greatest strengths. Once he gets into the final third, he has an elite one-on-one ability. It’s a skill he’s used to profile extremely well against right sided forwards such as Phil Foden and Dejan Kulusevski. Fiocco’s former coach, Alex Nichols lauded his technical skill and toughness in tight spaces.
"I don't think people fully realise what an intelligent player he is," said Alex Nichols. "He has phenomenal physical and technical capabilities. He is so strong for a young man, which has always been a big development point of his."
Alongside his defensive prowess, Lewis-Skelly has made the seamless transition to playing left-back at first-team level. His 66 per cent duel success rate is second among all Premier League players this season, per FBRef, showcasing his defensive prowess in dueling scenarios. He’s never been dribbled past in his 14 Premier League appearances this season. It’s another remarkable accomplishment that solidifies his place as a highly accountable defender.
His edge passing accuracy under pressure is another statue out of marble illustrating his poise and demeanor in the pocket. Lewis-Skelly is able to keep her pass accuracy above 90% even when pressured by an opponent within three metres. This speaks to his tremendous ability to play well in tough situations.
Even with his confident performances, Lewis-Skelly has faced his share of challenges. And though he famously picked up two red cards in his Arsenal career, these blows haven’t forced him from the field. It was a lesson for young Ethan,” read claims about the young player’s close scare after Arsenal PSV by manager Mikel Arteta.
"The line is really thin in sport and he needs to understand that," Arteta remarked.
Regardless of the challenge, Lewis-Skelly’s eagerness to learn and grow has been key to his rapid development. His ex-coach, Alex Nichols, confirmed this feeling.
"What is important is that he has that willingness to learn," Nichols stated. "That is what is now helping him continue to develop, as he did throughout his time in the academy."
As Lewis-Skelly moves forward in his professional journey, he hasn’t lost sight of what keeps him grounded—or what inspires him to become even better. He has weathered all of those challenges, showing a level of resilience and flexibility that’s shocking for a student so young.
"Like any 18-year-old playing in the Premier League, he is still learning," an observer noted. "It is all part of the learning process."
Leave a Reply