At a Glance:
- Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly could cause Atletico Madrid problems.
- What makes Lewis-Skelly special.
- Thierry Henry on whether he should start.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has put his name into the hat as a potential starter for Arsenal against Atletico Madrid after his sublime display against Fulham.
Lewis-Skelly earned praise from Gary Lineker after his latest performance as the 19-year-old’s presence was fundamental in the Gunners playing free-flowing football again.
The youngster’s ball progression, ability to drive past opponents and play incisive passes from central midfield made him the perfect partner to the more reserved Declan Rice.
Martin Zubimendi has been criticised for being the antithesis of the Englishman in possession, on the other hand. If the Englishman ends up getting the nod ahead of Zubimendi on Tuesday, a certain Diego Simeone should be concerned.
Myles Lewis-Skelly should start for Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
Lewis-Skelly would be a potentially nightmarish presence for Atletico Madrid to deal with because the Arsenal wonderkid is a nuisance on and off the ball.
In possession, it is a challenge for any manager to tame the teenager, considering he can beat the opposition press by finding runners from deep. Furthermore, the England international is an expert at dancing past opponents due to his quick feet and comfort in playing on the half-turn.
While off the ball, Lewis-Skelly wins duels for fun and has the physicality to impose himself on games. Numbers don’t lie and sum up his completeness as a player against Fulham.
| Myles Lewis-Skelly vs Fulham | Stats |
| Accurate passes | 64/66 |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Duels won | 7/11 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
A potential midfield pairing of Johnny Cardoso and Koke will have their hands full against the fearless Lewis-Skelly, who thrives in the biggest of games.
His performances against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain last season reflect the Gunners sensation’s penchant for thriving in high-pressure situations. The challenge for Diego Simeone will be to decide whether to press Arsenal intensely or sit back and soak pressure.
Lewis-Skelly’s incredible technical quality, engine and progressive approach make him tailor-made to counter both situations and could be why Arsenal end up winning the midfield battle at home.
Thierry Henry would like to see Myles Lewis-Skelly start vs Atletico Madrid
Thierry Henry initially raved about his mentality against Fulham on Sky Sports.
The Frenchman admitted that he would love to see Lewis-Skelly start against Atletico Madrid as well.
Henry said: “Not only that [Lewis-Skelly was patiently waiting for his chance in the side], he was ready. It’s one thing to maybe be upset about the situation. But he was ready.
Should Myles Lewis-Skelly start for Arsenal tomorrow against Atlético Madrid 🤔 pic.twitter.com/e9ZxsKhpmK
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026
“He didn’t look like he didn’t play for a very long time. He controlled the game, he went forward, he bossed the game at times. That’s outstanding. Don’t underestimate experience though. Do not underestimate experience in these type of games.
“But would I like to see him on Tuesday? Yes, why not? But Mikel Arteta is the coach.”
