Bukayo Saka celebrates the goal in which Myles Lewis-Skelly played a big part. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday night and the game was an important one for 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The left-back started in Europe’s biggest competition for the first time in front of an Emirati crowd having already featured in the tournament from the bench twice this season.
The youngster is a huge talent and Mikel Arteta opted to give the defender a chance given the various injuries that have hit Arsenal’s backline.
This decision paid off immediately Lewis-Skelly played a key role in the opening goal for the Gunners. The 18-year-old showed impressive composure before playing a through ball into the path of Gabriel Jesus, who would find Bukayo Saka in the Monaco box for the England winger to make it 1-0.
Mikel Arteta explained before the Monaco match why his Arsenal side are not scoring from open play
Arsenal players rushed to the left-back to praise him for his role in goal and after the game, Saka told TNT Sports what he said to the youngster at the time.
Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal talent Myles Lewis-Skelly is Champions League level
When he asked TNT Sports what he said to Lewis-Skelly after his goal, Saka revealed he told the youngster he believes he is at Champions League level.
“I told him, as I told him before the game, that this was his level,” said the winger. “He must not have doubts and play with confidence. We see what he’s doing in training, so I was happy with him and he was a big part of the first goal.”
“I told him before the game that this was his level”
Did Bukayo Saka know Myles Lewis-Skelly was ready to perform in the Champions League?
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Lewis-Skelly has impressed Arteta for many months now and looks set for more opportunities in an Arsenal shirt in the coming weeks.
If the youngster proves fit, it will be a huge boost for the Gunners as left-back is not an area of strength in the north London club’s squad.
