Jamie Carragher compares ‘special’ Myles Lewis-Skelly to Man Utd and England legend after Arsenal win

Jamie Carragher hailed Myles Lewis-Skelly as a ‘very special’ talent after Arsenal’s stunning win over Real Madrid and likened the full-back’s mentality to that of a young Wayne Rooney.

A Declan Rice-inspired Arsenal put one foot in the Champions League semi-finals with a famous European victory in front of a rapturous Emirates crowd on Tuesday night.

The England midfielder beat Thibaut Courtois with two magnificent free-kicks – the first of his entire career – and Mikel Merino increased the deficit with an exquisite curled effort in the 75th minute.

Madrid’s evening went from bad to worse in stoppage time as Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second bookable offence, meaning the Frenchman will be suspended for next week’s return leg at the Bernabeu.

Lewis-Skelly once again belied his age with an assured performance from left-back against the reigning champions and the 18-year-old capped off a fine display with the assist for Merino’s strike to further dampen Madrid spirits.

It was just the latest in a string of exceptional showings from a player who has taken to senior football like a duck to water and Carragher had nothing but praise for the ‘spectacular’ teenager in his post-match analysis.

‘Players of my generation didn’t have to be spectacular to play full-back but he is spectacular at full-back,’ the ex-Liverpool and England defender said on CBS Sports.

‘He almost looks like one of the best players in the Arsenal team.

‘His football arrogance reminds me a bit of Jude Bellingham at that age, also Wayne Rooney.

‘Those players had no fear and Lewis-Skelly is exactly the same because he looks like he’s been playing all his life. He is very, very special.’

Rooney himself singled out Lewis-Skelly for praise while on punditry duty for Amazon Prime, claiming the ‘fearless’ youngster had ‘passed a big test’ with flying colours against the 15-time European champions.

‘I think he played with no fear, right from the start. We were talking during the game about the positions he takes up and whether it’s always the best positions, in some cases it’s probably not,’ the former Manchester United and England captain said.

‘But he was causing Real Madrid problems. He was creating an overload in midfield coming into that position and for a young lad to play at this level – it can be intimidating and nerve-wracking – but he played with full confidence and full belief.

‘I’m really pleased for him because it’s been a big season for him, coming into the team, making his debut for England and then producing that performance against Real Madrid tonight. He’s passed a big test.’

A beaming Mikel Arteta said he was ‘so proud’ after the victory, but stressed that it was ‘only half-time’ and his players could not afford to rest on their laurels ahead of the second leg.

‘It was a beautiful night. I’m so happy, so proud of the team,’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters.

‘We have the opportunity to make a lot of people proud and we certainly have done that. I’ve never seen the stadium like this.

‘Before the game they were already singing and already playing the game. For big European nights you need the big stadiums that create atmosphere and you need individual magic moments and there you go.’

The Spaniard added: ‘We’re going to enjoy the win but we know it’s half-time and we’re going to have to be even better in Madrid.

‘I was very convinced [this could happen]. I could sense in the build-up we could create a lot of problems.

‘But you have to make it happen. If you have that mindset and belief it can happen, you can deliver it. We did that but it’s only half-time.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.