Manajer Arsenal Mikel Arteta memutuskan untuk memasang Myles Lewis-Skelly sejak menit awal dalam laga leg kedua semifinal Liga Champions melawan Atletico Madrid pada Selasa, 5 Mei 2026. Keputusan ini diambil setelah pemain berusia 19 tahun tersebut menunjukkan performa impresif saat The Gunners mengalahkan Fulham di kompetisi domestik akhir pekan lalu.
Arteta memilih untuk mengistirahatkan Martin Zubimendi di bangku cadangan guna menjaga kebugaran sang pemain. Sebagai gantinya, Lewis-Skelly yang biasanya beroperasi sebagai bek kiri kini diberikan kesempatan untuk mengisi peran alaminya di lini tengah bersama Declan Rice dan Eberechi Eze.
Langkah berani Arteta ini sejalan dengan dorongan dari legenda klub, Thierry Henry, yang sebelumnya melontarkan pujian setinggi langit bagi lulusan akademi Hale End tersebut. Henry menilai Lewis-Skelly memiliki kemampuan antisipasi dan keberanian yang luar biasa untuk mengontrol jalannya pertandingan meskipun usianya masih sangat muda.
"Miles was just different," ujar Thierry Henry, Legenda Arsenal.
Pria asal Prancis tersebut menambahkan bahwa Lewis-Skelly memiliki kemampuan fisik dan pembacaan lawan yang jarang ia lihat pada pemain lain di posisinya.
"I didn't see Zubimendi do that often – the legs, anticipation, stopping someone, boom, making someone feel that you that you are there; he was there all the time," kata Thierry Henry, Legenda Arsenal.
Henry menyadari bahwa dalam pertandingan sebesar semifinal Liga Champions, manajer mungkin akan memilih opsi yang lebih aman, namun performa Lewis-Skelly dinilai layak mendapatkan tempat utama.
"Because of the magnitude of the game, he's going to think to be a bit more secure. But Lewis-Skelly showed that that might be a new position for him in terms of next season," tutur Thierry Henry, Legenda Arsenal.
Menurut Henry, kesiapan mental sang pemain muda terlihat sangat menonjol meski ia jarang mendapatkan menit bermain reguler pada musim ini.
"He did extremely well. I wouldn't mind if he starts him but then I can understand because of the magnitude of the game and how Zubimndi plays, sometimes you need to be a tiny bit more secure. We will see. But in this game, he was brave," papar Thierry Henry, Legenda Arsenal.
Legenda tersebut juga menyoroti bagaimana Lewis-Skelly tidak terlihat gugup dan mampu mendikte permainan dengan sangat tenang.
"It's one thing to be patient. It's one thing to maybe be upset about the situation. But he was ready. He didn't look like he didn't play for a very long time," kata Thierry Henry, Legenda Arsenal.
Henry menegaskan bahwa meski pengalaman sangat krusial dalam kompetisi Eropa, talenta Lewis-Skelly tidak boleh dipandang sebelah mata.
"He controlled the game. He went forward. He buzzed the game at times. That's outstanding. Do not underestimate experience in this type of game. But would I like to see him on Tuesday or tomorrow, obviously? Yes. Why not?" cetus Thierry Henry, Legenda Arsenal.
Menanggapi keputusannya memainkan pemain muda tersebut, Arteta menegaskan bahwa Lewis-Skelly memiliki fleksibilitas posisi yang sangat dibutuhkan tim dalam strategi rotasi pemain.
"He has played there many times in that position in different games, he has the ability to do that, he can exchange positions with players, he is very flexible and he has shown what he can do," jelas Mikel Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.
Arteta juga meminta dukungan penuh dari para suporter di Stadion Emirates untuk menciptakan atmosfer yang bisa membantu tim melaju ke partai final.
"I don't think its messages needed. It's what is at stake; it says it all. I think it's the occasion, it's the moment, it's the game. Let's live this together and let's make it happen," ucap Mikel Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.
Pelatih asal Spanyol tersebut mengaku sangat menantikan momen emosional bersama para pendukung di laga krusial ini.
"It was an unbelievable atmosphere. One of the best that I've witnessed and it was great to play there. I can't wait. I can't wait to live this moment with our supporters, our people and generate something really, really special to get into that final," tambah Mikel Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.
Senada dengan Henry, mantan striker Inggris Gary Lineker juga terkesan dengan kemampuan Lewis-Skelly dalam mengalirkan bola ke depan. Lineker menilai pemain berusia 19 tahun itu bahkan lebih cepat dalam menginisiasi serangan dibandingkan rekan setimnya, Declan Rice.
"I thought Myles Lewis-Skelly came in a midfield position, not like a left back that's moving in a midfield position, and his first thought is to turn and look forward and quickly," ungkap Gary Lineker, Pengamat Sepak Bola.
Analisis Lineker menunjukkan bahwa keberadaan Lewis-Skelly di lini tengah memberikan dampak fundamental bagi kecepatan serangan Arsenal.
"And I think that really enabled Arsenal to get it forward quicker and obviously it was a bit of a plan… pushed the wingers higher and Saka was getting the ball in time to actually take someone on and I think he made a fundamental difference," lanjut Gary Lineker, Pengamat Sepak Bola.
Lineker mengapresiasi sikap positif pemain muda tersebut yang selalu berusaha mencari celah untuk melepaskan umpan progresif ke area pertahanan lawan.
"I think that's quite interesting because he's a young player and we've known him as a fullback, but in that midfield area, the way that I think he was so positive and looking forward," kata Gary Lineker, Pengamat Sepak Bola.
Ia membandingkan gaya main tersebut dengan Rice yang menurutnya memiliki karakteristik berbeda dalam membawa bola.
"We know what Rice is a different kind of player in the sense that he's probably at his best when he's running with the ball," tambah Gary Lineker, Pengamat Sepak Bola.
Kelebihan Lewis-Skelly dalam melepaskan operan cepat dianggap menjadi solusi bagi Arsenal untuk membongkar pertahanan rapat.
"But he's also not really a player that tends to look for forward passes particularly quickly either. So I think he really helped them," pungkas Gary Lineker, Pengamat Sepak Bola.
Berdasarkan data statistik dari Sofascore saat melawan Fulham, Lewis-Skelly mencatatkan akurasi operan mencapai 97 persen dan memenangkan 7 dari 11 duel yang ia hadapi. Performa solid ini menjadi dasar kuat bagi Arteta untuk menurunkannya kembali di laga krusial kontra Atletico Madrid malam ini.
