Mika Richards believes that Miles Lewis-Skelly has outgrown his role as a rotation player at Arsenal. Following England's emphatic 3-0 win over the Czech Republic, the former international defender singled out the 20-year-old as one of the most exciting talents of his generation.
Lewis-Skelly had another opportunity to shine on the international stage, and he certainly made a strong impression on Richards. England triumphed comfortably at Wembley during the international break, with the young Arsenal player being one of the stars of the match.
Richards said:
Miles Lewis-Skelly is one of my favourite players.
Technically, he is excellent, strong, quick, has a great understanding of the game, and is still incredibly young.
Richards particularly remembered Lewis-Skelly's performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago.
He added:
I recall his match against Real in the Champions League quarter-finals. I've rarely seen anything like that from such a young player.
At Arsenal, competition for places remains fierce. Riccardo Calafiori regularly occupies the left-back spot, while the midfield is stacked with talent including Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Bruno Guimaraes, and Mikel Merino, along with World Cup winner Martin Subimendi.
Despite this stiff competition, Richards is adamant that Lewis-Skelly deserves more game time.
He stressed:
Lewis-Skelly is too good to be sitting on the bench.
He is one of the best young players I've seen at his age, and I'm not exaggerating. He is an incredible player, and it’s a joy to watch him.
Gary Lineker also praised the Arsenal star's performance:
He was very, very good again. This lad knows how to play.
Post-match, England manager Thomas Tuchel also showered praise on Harry Kane, who made his 125th appearance for the national team and scored a brace. The head coach labelled the striker a 'legend of English football' after Kane increased his tally to 91 goals for his country.
