Myles Lewis-Skelly excelled once again for Arsenal in their shock 3-0 Champions League demolition of Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Declan Rice understandably grabbed the headlines for his brace of free-kick goals against the defending European champions, as Mikel Arteta’s side took a huge step into the semi-finals at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s three goals came within 17 second-half minutes as they completely broke the game open; with Mikel Merino sweeping home a third five minutes after Rice’ second free-kick found the top-right corner.
While Rice’s spectacular strikes both came from dead-ball situations, Merino’s goal was set up by a square pass from Lewis-Skelly, following driving runs from deep by both Rice and the Arsenal left-back.
Arsenal stars respond as Lewis-Skelly sets the bar high
Tuesday’s match was just the 31st of Lewis-Skelly’s senior career – two of which have come in England colours already – yet the 18-year-old continues to look as assured as a player twice his age in defence.
Arsenal weren’t wholly comfortable against a Real Madrid side featuring Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe spearheading a star-studded lineup, but once again, Lewis-Skelly didn’t look out of place.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals/Assists | Clean Sheets | Yellow/Red Cards |
| Myles Lewis-Skelly | 32 | 20 | 1/3 | 11 | 5/2 |
The teenager took to Instagram at full-time (8 April) with a post of him on the ball opposite Rodrygo, having hardly given the Brazilian a sniff in defence before Carlo Ancelotti hooked him on 85 minutes.
Lewis-Skelly’s post didn’t include a caption, and was liked by Gunners team-mates Rice and Bukayo Saka as well as fellow England internationals Dominic Solanke, Levi Colwill and Jordan Henderson.
Bukayo Saka the only downside of perfect night for Arsenal
Taking a 3-0 lead into the second leg of any competitive tie – let alone a Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu – is dreamland for any team, but Arteta will be determined to finish the job.
Arsenal may have to do so next week without Bukayo Saka, who limped off clutching his ankle prior to Merino’s goal after being caught by Eduardo Camavinga in the lead-up to Rice’s second free-kick.
Saka only returned to the Arsenal side against Fulham on 1 April, scoring less than seven minutes into his comeback, and Arteta will be in no mood to rush back his number seven regardless of next week’s aggregate scoreline.
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