Declan Rice compares Arsenal wonderkid Myles Lewis-Skelly to classy ex-Premier League midfielder as Mikel Arteta hails ‘phenomenal’ display

After the match, Rice highlighted Lewis-Skelly’s fearless playing style, comparing him to former Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele. “It is scary,” Rice remarked on TNT Sports. “I said the 18-year-olds now have no fear whatsoever. There were four or five times where he has that Moussa Dembele trait. He uses his body to get away from stuff. To show that at 18 years old is unbelievable.”

Lewis-Skelly has managed to keep veteran players like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori out of the lineup since being given the opportunity by manager Mikel Arteta. Rice believes that while Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder by trade, his versatility will serve him well, suggesting he could be in line for international honors in the future. “He is a midfielder by trade, he can play 6 and 8. To know these roles at 18 is unbelievable. Who knows what England holds for him?” he added.

Arteta also expressed his admiration for Lewis-Skelly, noting his impressive performance against Tottenham’s attacking threats. “He was phenomenal again today,” Arteta said. “He is a real personality and has a real attitude about him. You need it to play against (Dejan) Kulusevski and (Brennan) Johnson. The way he handled the situation and occasion was top.”

Former defender Rio Ferdinand echoed the sentiments, commending Lewis-Skelly for how he managed to deal with both Kulusevski and Johnson. “To deal with them both the way he did, he deserves huge credit,” Ferdinand stated.

Lewis-Skelly’s emergence has certainly caught the attention of fans and pundits alike, marking him as a promising talent for both Arsenal and potentially the England national team.