Erling Haaland can’t reignite Myles Lewis-Skelly row but Arsenal youngster still has hurdles to clear

Erling Haaland can’t reignite Myles Lewis-Skelly row but Arsenal youngster still has hurdles to clear

Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of Arsenal’s breakout stars in the Premier League last season, but the teenage defender is now fighting to secure a regular spot in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI.

One of the standout moments of last campaign came when Lewis-Skelly mocked Erling Haaland by copying the striker’s famous “zen” celebration after netting in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Manchester City at the Emirates in February.

It was a cheeky response to Haaland’s earlier jibe of “who the f*** are you?” during City’s late 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September. A year on, the Norwegian certainly knows his name—so does everyone else.

That personal spat added more fuel to the growing rivalry between Arsenal and City, ensuring Sunday’s Emirates clash will be another fiery contest.

The 18-year-old made a sensational rise last term, going from an unknown academy player to a first-team regular, even breaking into England’s senior squad. But this season has been a far tougher challenge: he’s yet to start a Premier League game and has just 66 minutes across three substitute outings.

With Riccardo Calafiori nailing down the left-back role, Lewis-Skelly faces a huge battle to reclaim his place. While exciting on the ball, his defensive shortcomings remain a concern for Arteta.

Known for his signature pirouette-like dribbles and ability to carry the ball into space, it’s clear Lewis-Skelly’s instincts remain those of a midfielder rather than a full-back. That attacking flair has occasionally backfired—errors against Tottenham in pre-season and West Ham in February highlighted his vulnerability, with Arteta publicly and privately pushing him to cut out mistakes.

Despite the setbacks, Arteta is a firm admirer and the fans remain firmly behind him. England boss Thomas Tuchel also showed faith by calling him up for World Cup qualifiers, stressing the importance of sticking with a young player even through dips in form.

This season could prove more valuable for Lewis-Skelly’s development than his breakthrough year, as he learns resilience and improves the weaker areas of his game. His five-year contract underlines Arsenal’s long-term belief in him.

Calafiori, meanwhile, is thriving after his own injury troubles, living up to his £42m price tag and making himself difficult to dislodge. Still, with Lewis-Skelly featuring in three of Arsenal’s four league matches off the bench, he remains very much in the picture—and is guaranteed a rousing ovation if he steps onto the pitch against City on Sunday.