When Myles Lewis-Skelly stepped onto the pitch for his England senior debut, he had one thing on his mind—making his grandma proud. And he did just that. Not only did the 18-year-old Arsenal starlet score on his first England appearance, but he also picked up the Man of the Match award, marking a magical night at Wembley.
“I had to put on a show for my grandma… make sure that I didn’t look soft in front of her. I hope she’s proud of me!” Lewis-Skelly said after the game. If she was proud then, imagine how she feels now!
A Record-Breaking Debut for England
Lewis-Skelly’s goal in England’s 2-0 win over Albania wasn’t just any goal—it was a piece of history. At just 18 years and 176 days old, he became the youngest player ever to score on his full debut for England.
The goal came in the 20th minute, thanks to a perfectly timed through ball from Jude Bellingham. The Arsenal youngster latched onto it and calmly slotted it home, sending Wembley into a frenzy.
Declan Rice, his Arsenal teammate, was full of praise.
“He is fearless,” Rice told ITV. “He does everything right off the pitch and he is only 18. I knew he was going to play like that tonight because of the confidence he has. He has kept his feet on the ground, and this is only the start for him.”
New England boss Thomas Tuchel was equally impressed.
“He was amazing in camp. He is full of confidence, humor, and such an open and mature character. Everything you see on the pitch, you see off the pitch. It was a great performance, full of courage and quality.”
Not a Bad Season for an 18-Year-Old!
Lewis-Skelly’s rise has been nothing short of phenomenal. Just six months ago, he was playing for Arsenal’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy. Now, he has:
Scored his first Arsenal Premier League goal Scored on his England senior debut Made his England national team debut Played in the Champions League Played in the Premier League Played in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup
That’s quite a season for someone who only turned 18 last September!
A Star in the Making
Per Mertesacker, Arsenal’s academy director, has watched Lewis-Skelly grow since he was a young boy in the club’s youth setup. While he originally played as a central midfielder, his transition to an inverted left-back role has showcased his versatility.
“With Myles, whatever challenges we put in front of him, he seems to be really comfortable and ready,” Mertesacker said. “If you can stay as cool as possible in those challenging moments, then you have a good chance to get an opportunity.”
However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Lewis-Skelly has already seen two red cards this season—one of which was later rescinded—but his resilience has been key to his success.
Keeping His Feet on the Ground
Despite the rapid rise, Lewis-Skelly and his family understand the realities of professional football. His mother, Marcia Lewis, runs a platform called NO1Fan.Club, which provides support for parents navigating youth football.
“He is not an Arsenal first-team player, he is an academy player, he has not ‘made it,’” she told BBC Sport last year. “He backs himself, we back him, but the realities are what they are… he is competing with multi-million pound players all over the world.”
That humility, combined with his incredible talent, is what makes Lewis-Skelly so special.
What’s Next for Lewis-Skelly?
After making history with England, the challenge now is maintaining this momentum. Arsenal and England both recognize his potential, and with Tuchel and Arteta guiding him, the sky’s the limit.
At just 18, Myles Lewis-Skelly has already made history. But if his trajectory continues, this could just be the beginning of a truly special career.
