Myles Lewis-Skelly can be Arsenal’s next Ashley Cole – he already boasts two Premier League highs
Myles Lewis-Skelly may have finally solved Arsenal’s left-back issue following Ashley Cole’s controversial departure in 2006. The academy graduate is enjoying a stunning breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium, resulting in him being tipped to earn a senior England call-up. Lewis-Skelly has become a an instant fan favourite at the Emirates in his debut seasonGetty Lewis-Skelly has featured in 19 games in all competitions, and opened his account for the club on Sunday during the Gunners’ 5-1 thumping of Manchester City. His dazzling display against the Premier League champions saw him likened to Jude Bellingham and Wayne Rooney. But for ex-Tottenham striker Darren Bent – a diehard Gooner – it’s fellow Hale End graduate Cole that Lewis-Skelly boasts similar traits to. Cole became one of the world’s greatest left-backs having come up through the ranks at Highbury – winning two league titles and three FA Cups before joining rivals Chelsea. It’s a position that has plagued Arsenal since – especially in recent years under Mikel Arteta‘s tutelage. In what has become a somewhat cursed spot in the team, Jurrien Timber, Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all battled serious injuries. It led Arsenal to splash out a potential £38million on Riccardo Calafiori last summer to fix their problem – only for the Italian to be struck by regular setbacks. His absence has paved the way for Lewis-Skelly to receive game time, with Arteta transforming him from a box-to-box midfielder to an attacking full-back. Waxing lyrical over Lewis-Skelly’s performance against City on talkSPORT Drive, Bent said: “You can quite clearly see the trust in him when they give him the ball. “But I thought he defended really well, he was strong, scored a great goal.” Hale End graduate Lewis-Skelly is being tipped to receive an England call-upGetty Lewis-Skelly has featured in ten Premier League matches this term Interjecting, co-host Andy Goldstein then revealed that Bent told him off-air that Lewis-Skelly is better on the ball than what Cole was, insisting his view is an ‘unbelievable statement’. To which Bent, doubling down on his view, remarked: “Yeah, I think so. “We both agree that Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in Premier League history. “But his [Lewis-Skelley’s] touch, his little bit of arrogance that I like, strong in possession, can score a goal. “He looks comfortable, he’s got the trust of his teammates as well. “Hale End, that place is renowned for bringing through great kids, [Bukayo] Saka, [Jack] Wilshere, people like that. Bent believes Lewis-Skelly is better on the ball that what Cole was at ArsenalAFP “And these are the next two, [Ethan] Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly.” Bent’s view of Lewis-Skelly being better on the ball than Cole is backed up by the youngster’s incredible passing stats. He has completed a whopping 248 successful passes from his 260 attempts – a staggering success rate of 95.4 per cent. It is the highest figure of any Premier League player this season who has featured in at least 45 minutes. Another standout aspect of Lewis-Skelly’s game is his physicality, with no player yet to dribble past him from his 553 minutes of top-flight action. Lewis-Skelly has also impressively won 74.2 per cent of his duels. Lewis-Skelly was a standout player in the Gunners’ 5-1 victory over City That’s another Premier League high from players that have contested more than 25. And while he looks to establish the left-back spot at Arsenal as his own, just like Cole, he could soon hold down the role at England. New Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel is known to be an admirer of the youngster, and could include him in his first squad for March’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Similarly to Cole’s absence at Arsenal, the left-back spot has been an issue for England, with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell unable to be relied upon due to injury. As it stands, Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, Ipswich’s Leif Davis and Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell are Lewis-Skelly’s main competitors at international level. But as shown for Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly only needs to be given a chance to prove if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Myles Lewis-Skelly may have finally solved Arsenal’s left-back issue following Ashley Cole’s controversial departure in 2006.
The academy graduate is enjoying a stunning breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium, resulting in him being tipped to earn a senior England call-up.
Lewis-Skelly has featured in 19 games in all competitions, and opened his account for the club on Sunday during the Gunners’ 5-1 thumping of Manchester City.
His dazzling display against the Premier League champions saw him likened to Jude Bellingham and Wayne Rooney.
But for ex-Tottenham striker Darren Bent – a diehard Gooner – it’s fellow Hale End graduate Cole that Lewis-Skelly boasts similar traits to.
Cole became one of the world’s greatest left-backs having come up through the ranks at Highbury – winning two league titles and three FA Cups before joining rivals Chelsea.
It’s a position that has plagued Arsenal since – especially in recent years under Mikel Arteta‘s tutelage.
In what has become a somewhat cursed spot in the team, Jurrien Timber, Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all battled serious injuries.
It led Arsenal to splash out a potential £38million on Riccardo Calafiori last summer to fix their problem – only for the Italian to be struck by regular setbacks.
His absence has paved the way for Lewis-Skelly to receive game time, with Arteta transforming him from a box-to-box midfielder to an attacking full-back.
Waxing lyrical over Lewis-Skelly’s performance against City on talkSPORT Drive, Bent said: “You can quite clearly see the trust in him when they give him the ball.
“But I thought he defended really well, he was strong, scored a great goal.”
Interjecting, co-host Andy Goldstein then revealed that Bent told him off-air that Lewis-Skelly is better on the ball than what Cole was, insisting his view is an ‘unbelievable statement’.
To which Bent, doubling down on his view, remarked: “Yeah, I think so.
“We both agree that Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in Premier League history.
“But his [Lewis-Skelley’s] touch, his little bit of arrogance that I like, strong in possession, can score a goal.
“He looks comfortable, he’s got the trust of his teammates as well.
“Hale End, that place is renowned for bringing through great kids, [Bukayo] Saka, [Jack] Wilshere, people like that.
“And these are the next two, [Ethan] Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly.”
Bent’s view of Lewis-Skelly being better on the ball than Cole is backed up by the youngster’s incredible passing stats.
He has completed a whopping 248 successful passes from his 260 attempts – a staggering success rate of 95.4 per cent.
It is the highest figure of any Premier League player this season who has featured in at least 45 minutes.
Another standout aspect of Lewis-Skelly’s game is his physicality, with no player yet to dribble past him from his 553 minutes of top-flight action.
Lewis-Skelly has also impressively won 74.2 per cent of his duels.
That’s another Premier League high from players that have contested more than 25.
And while he looks to establish the left-back spot at Arsenal as his own, just like Cole, he could soon hold down the role at England.
New Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel is known to be an admirer of the youngster, and could include him in his first squad for March’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Similarly to Cole’s absence at Arsenal, the left-back spot has been an issue for England, with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell unable to be relied upon due to injury.
As it stands, Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, Ipswich’s Leif Davis and Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell are Lewis-Skelly’s main competitors at international level.
But as shown for Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly only needs to be given a chance to prove if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
