Myles Lewis-Skelly

Myles Anthony Lewis-Skelly (born 26 September 2006) is an English footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Arsenal.

Myles Lewis-Skelly
Personal information
Full name Myles Anthony Lewis-Skelly[1]
Date of birth (2006-09-26) 26 September 2006
Place of birth Islington, England[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 59
Youth career
2015- Arsenal
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 England U16 5 (0)
2022– England U17 17 (2)
2023– England U18 2 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:14, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Lewis-Skelly joined the academy of Premier League side Arsenal as a child, with American sports website The Athletic stating that he joined at the age of eight,[3] while Arsenal under-18 manager Jack Wilshere has been quoted as saying he has "been at the club since he was nine".[4] He progressed through the academy alongside friend and teammate Ethan Nwaneri, and the pair made their under-18 debut together in a 6–1 win over Reading, with both players scoring.[5]

Lewis-Skelly drew acclaim for his performances in Arsenal's 2022–23 FA Youth Cup campaign, in which they reached the final before being defeated by West Ham United. In the fifth-round game played on 6 February 2023, he starred in a defensive midfield role as Arsenal beat Watford 4–2,[6] before agreeing a scholarship deal with the club later in the same month, keeping him at Hale End for another two years, during which time he would become eligible for a professional contract.[3]

His performance in the quarter-final win against Cambridge United earned the praise of Jack Wilshere, with the coach stating the Lewis-Skelly was capable of "things you can’t coach".[7] In the semi-final against Manchester City, he scored the winning goal in the final minute of extra time, as Arsenal went on to win 2–1.[4][5]

On 5 October 2023, Arsenal announce that Myles Lewis-Skelly has signed first professional contract.

International career

Lewis-Skelly’s parents are both British born, and his grandparents are of mixed Caribbean heritage (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia). Lewis-Skelly is eligible to represent both England and Barbados at international level. During his youth career with Arsenal, he trained with the Barbados national football team.[6]

Having represented England at under-16 level, Lewis-Skelly was called up to the under-17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[8] In England's second game of the tournament, Lewis-Skelly scored after seven minutes in an eventual 4–1 win over the Netherlands; having received the ball on the half-way line, he dribbled past three Dutch players before entering the penalty area and being tackled by Dies Janse. The ball came to English forward Leon Chiwome, whose heavy touch fell into the path of Lewis-Skelly, who slotted the ball under Dutch goalkeeper Kiyani Zeggen to make it 1–0.[9][10]

On 6 September 2023, Lewis-Skelly made his England U-18 debut during a 2-0 defeat to France in Limoges.[11]

Style of play

Predominantly a central midfielder, capable of playing in both attacking and defensive roles, Lewis-Skelly has also filled in at left-back for Arsenal's under-21 side.[5][12] Football publication, Goal described him as "excellent with the ball at his feet", with "impressive technique", and "an engine needed to be able to get from box to box".[5] Lewis-Skelly has garnered stylistic comparisons to the likes of Arturo Vidal & Michael Essien, all-action midfielders capable of imposing themselves onto games.[13][14]

Career statistics
As of 29 June 2023.[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal U21 2022–23 —2[lower-alpha 1]020
Career total 0000002020
Notes
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. Myles Lewis-Skelly at WorldFootball.net
  2. "Lewis-Skelly over the moon with first contract". Lewis-Skelly over the moon with first contract.
  3. Ornstein, David (27 February 2023). "Ornstein: VAR chief retiring, Arsenal teenager to sign, Haaland expected to go with Nike". theathletic.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. de Roché, Art (5 April 2023). "Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly is deciding games and doing 'things you can't coach'". theathletic.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. Watts, Charles (25 April 2023). "Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal's latest wonderkid midfielder who looks destined for the top". goal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. Vurley, Callum (7 February 2023). "'Hale End taking over' – Myles Lewis-Skelly compilation emerges after Arsenal FA Youth Cup win and fans think they're set for the future". talksport.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  7. de Roché, Art (28 February 2023). "Jack Wilshere interview: Staying calm, making memories and praising Lewis-Skelly". theathletic.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. Collings, Simon (17 May 2023). "Arsenal starlets Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly named in England U17 squad for European Championships". standard.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. Rogers, Jonathon (22 May 2023). "Lewis-Skelly scores to help England U17s progress". arsenal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. "Men's U17 Euros: Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly scores goal for England against Netherlands". bbc.co.uk. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  11. "Report: France 2-0 England MU18s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  12. Winter, Lewis (7 February 2023). "Arsenal already have a 'superior Granit Xhaka-regen' as fans rave over academy star". express.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. Canton, Tom (2023-07-13). "Myles Lewis-Skelly in profile as Arsenal young star ready for Nurnberg debut". Football.London. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  14. Roché, Art de. "Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly is deciding games and doing 'things you can't coach'". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  15. Myles Lewis-Skelly at Soccerway
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