Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has likened Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly to Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney.

The 18-year-old has taken to senior football like a duck to water since making his first-team debut for the Gunners earlier this season and Carragher claims there’s a confidence about him that reminds him of how Rooney conducted himself out on the pitch:

“You talk about full backs and you think of sort at Liverpool with Trent, they’re a little bit different. They’re not a normal full back, and you just mentioned what a young full back would be. Normally at a big club, when a young player comes through, the easiest position to come through is probably full back.”

“You (pointing at Micah Richards) did that (at Man City), I did that (at Liverpool). You bed yourself into the game. I’m not saying it’s an easy position, but you don’t have to be spectacular if you like. But he’s spectacular at left back and he looks like one of the best players in the Arsenal team. He’s going into central midfield and receiving the ball on the half turn. He’s got Mbappe and Vinicius Jnr either side of him, he’s taking responsibility.”

“When Wayne Rooney first came into the England squad, it was almost like I’m the best player, give me the ball, no fear, you take the ball in difficult situations. When we were young players, it was like you wanted to get your first pass off, don’t give the ball away,y just want to almost build into a game. But he’s got that thing like he’s 26 and been playing all of his life and he is very, very special.”

Lewis-Skelly has been a revelation

It must be pointed out that the teenager wasn’t even in Mikel Arteta’s thinking before the start of the season. He pushed the club to sign a new left-back in Riccardo Calafiori for £42m.

However, the Italian’s injury problems led to Lewis-Skelly featuring more prominently than he otherwise might have done.

As Carragher mentions, the teenager took the opportunity with both hands and never looked back.

Arsenal have more than one teenager who looks ready to play at the highest level

All the talk about Lewis-Skelly has taken the limelight away from Ethan Nwaneri somewhat, but the attacking midfielder has arguably been just as impressive this campaign.

An injury to Bukayo Saka helped him get more minutes but his record of 8 goals and 2 assists in 31 appearances is mightily impressive nonetheless.

Reports suggest that Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are trying to tie down Nwaneri to a new contract as soon as possible. It is believed that the Gunners have already begun discussions with Lewis-Skelly about an extension too.

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