Myles Lewis-Skelly has been tipped for an instant England call-up by former Arsenal left-back Nigel Winterburn who says the teenager’s impressive start to his career has come as “no surprise.”
Lewis-Skelly, 18, only made his debut last September but has been a regular starter at full-back for Mikel Arteta in the last month or so.
Winterburn, who won three league titles and two FA Cups with Arsenal, says he has shown enough to deserve a chance for club and country.
Speaking via William Hill Vegas Winterburn said: “I have followed Myles through the youth system and his preferred position has always been as a midfield player.
“He is a strong carrier of the ball and he has got to learn certain positional skills at left-back but playing inverted is not an issue for him as he is so comfortable at taking the ball under pressure.
“He has developed so quickly but it’s no surprise to me – I knew there was huge potential for him going forwards I just didn’t know in what position.
Gabriel Martinelli says Myles Lewis-Skelly has the potential to be ‘one of the best players in the world’ ❤️#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/jNTR5TPC8o
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 18, 2025
“He’s almost pushing to be Arsenal’s regular left-back which is quite incredible. He’s enjoying the game at a big club and he is a level-headed young man who will keep progressing.
“When everyone is fit he’s going to ask Mikel to make a decision. That’s all you can do. He is deserving to play.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko started 20 games in the Premier League last season but this year has seen Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori as Arteta’s preferred options.
However, with Timber playing on the right to cover for the injured Ben White, and injuries hampering Calafiori’s first season, the door has been opened for Lewis-Skelly.
A similar opportunity could be on the cards at international level.
England have struggled at left-back in recent seasons with Luke Shaw injured on a regular basis and Kieran Trippier – now retired from international duty – Gareth Southgate’s preferred man throughout most of the run to the final of Euro 2024.
Myles Lewis-Skelly 🏴#U17EURO pic.twitter.com/nYXOxn7sOM
— UEFA U21 EURO (@UEFAUnder21) January 16, 2025
New manager Thomas Tuchel will name his first squad in March and Winterburn would not be surprised if the Arsenal teenager was in.
“There is a huge opportunity for someone,” Winterburn said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he was in the next squad. He has put himself right in the picture with his form.
“England have so many injuries at left-back and it is not like he has to displace someone of the class of an Ashley Cole – who was the best left-back in the world.
“Luke Shaw has injury issues, Ben Chilwell doesn’t fit in at Chelsea so there will be three or four players who will think they have a chance to start there and Myles is one of them.”