MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY became the fifth-youngest Arsenal player to reach 50 Premier League appearances when he featured against Liverpool on Sunday.
But the 20-year-old could, and perhaps should, have reached the feat even quicker if it wasn’t for his frustrating campaign last season.
Only , , and have reached 50 Prem games quicker than Lewis-Skelly in an shirt.
However, none of them had to battle through a second season of limited minutes after falling down the pecking order.
Lewis-Skelly made just five Premier League starts last season, one less than he has already amassed this term.
Arsenal boss had decided that Piero Hincapie and were more reliable at left-back as he led the Gunners to their first league title in 22 years.
But when the season hit crunch time, Arteta rolled the dice of playing Lewis-Skelly in midfield to refresh his side and help edge them over the line.
The international started in midfield for crucial title deciders against Fulham and West Ham, before earning a starting spot in the Champions League final against .
This term, it is that versatility that has made him one of Arteta’s most important players.
Lewis-Skelly has split his 12 appearances in all competitions this season between left-back and central midfield – offering Arteta a competent option in either role.
And his performances only seem to be getting better.
The Gunners splashed out £75m on signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United this summer, but the Brazilian’s minutes have been limited due to Lewis-Skelly’s brilliance.
On Sunday, Arteta substituted the experienced 28-year-old in favour of Lewis-Skelly to help shore up Arsenal’s midfield amid an onslaught of Liverpool attacks.
It worked.
Arsenal looked far more in control after Lewis-Skelly was introduced in the 62nd minute.
Despite playing half the minutes, Lewis-Skelly made the same number of tackles (2) as Guimaraes, won more duels, completed the same number of passes in Liverpool’s half and carried out more successful dribbles.
Arteta can finally look at Lewis-Skelly as an established Premier League midfielder, despite the Hale End graduate barely being 20 years old.
Arteta’s faith in the rising star is being evidenced by the role he is playing when he is given a chance in midfield.
The Gunners chief has been deploying Lewis-Skelly as the deepest player in Arsenal’s midfield three – allowing more attacking license as a result.
Lewis-Skelly played in midfield for most of his youth career at Arsenal, so it is no surprise that his senior career is starting to take shape in that role.
However, few people would have expected him to already be excelling in the middle of the park at this point in his career.
In fact, many didn’t even expect Lewis-Skelly to be the shining star in his academy class.
was labelled as the star boy from Lewis-Skelly’s crop, the pair playing together since they were just eight.
But Nwaneri’s career now seems to be on a completely different trajectory as he struggles on loan at .
Lewis-Skelly could have been out of the door himself this summer, after his limited minutes last term.
Arsenal had floated the idea of selling the youngster, with to get a feeling of the demand for his signature.
Despite that uncertain period, Lewis-Skelly has remained in North London and looks an even better player than during his breakout 2024/25 campaign.
Arteta faced questions from fans and Lewis-Skelly himself about his lack of minutes last season, but now he seems almost undroppable.
England boss has taken the same view, playing Lewis-Skelly in all four of the Three Lions’ games during the last international break.
Tuchel will surely have him as one of the first names on the list for the upcoming break too, with England facing and .
The German has claimed midfield “suits” Lewis-Skelly better than left-back, while and Alan Shearer have heaped praise on his performances in the middle of the park.
For Arteta, it is simply another positive to have a Swiss army knife of a player at his disposal as he searches for a consecutive Prem title.
