Thierry Henry said he would put faith in Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid after his performance against Fulham.
Lewis-Skelly was afforded a primary ever-start in his preferred central midfield role as Mikel Arteta rung the changes against Fulham on the weekend.
And the teenager rewarded his manager’s faith with an all-action display in the course of the pitch to assist his side claim an important 3-0 home win.
Martin Zubimendi, who was the person replaced by Lewis-Skelly, has shown signs of fatigue in the previous few weeks after a gruelling campaign, which has seen the Spaniard already make 52 club appearances in all competitions.
And analysing Arsenal’s win over Fulham, Henry was quick to spotlight the added intensity and physicality that Lewis-Skelly dropped at the Gunners’ midfield.
‘Miles was just different,’ the previous Arsenal striker told Sky Sports on Monday.
‘I didn’t see Zubimendi do that always – the legs, anticipation, stopping someone, boom, making someone feel that you simply that you simply are there; he was there on a regular basis.’
Zubimendi will still be expected to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, as Arsenal bid to achieve their first Champions League final since 2006.
And while adamant that the Spaniard would bring more ‘security’, Henry said he would lean towards giving Lewis-Skelly one other likelihood to impress from the beginning.
‘Due to the magnitude of the sport, he’s going to think to be a bit safer,’ Henry said. ‘But Lewis-Skelly showed that that may be a brand new position for him when it comes to next season.
‘He did extremely well. I wouldn’t mind if he starts him but then I can understand due to magnitude of the sport and the way Zubimndi plays, sometimes you’ll want to be a tiny bit safer. We’ll see. But on this game, he was brave.’
Henry continued: ‘It’s one thing to be patient. It’s one thing to perhaps be upset concerning the situation. But he was ready.
‘He didn’t appear to be he didn’t play for a really very long time. He controlled the sport. He went forward. He buzzed the sport at times. That’s outstanding.
‘Don’t underestimate experience in any such game. But would I wish to see him on Tuesday or tomorrow, obviously? Yes. Why not?’
Earlier on Tuesday, Arteta confirmed that Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are back available for selection, but Jurrien Timber stays out with injury.
Should Myles Lewis-Skelly start against Atletico Madrid?
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