Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer Agree About Arsenal and England Star Myles Lewis-Skelly

· GiveMeSport

The 20-year-old started in midfield as England were beaten by Spain at Wembley

In the absence of Declan Rice against Spain on Saturday, Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly started in midfield again for England in the entertaining 3-2 defeat.

Even though Lewis-Skelly's position coming through was at full-back, he has been shining in a central midfield role for club and country in recent months, including against the World Champions on the weekend.

It was always going to be a tough game for the Three Lions midfield against Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo, but Lewis-Skelly, Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham all performed admirably as Thomas Tuchel's men could easily have run out winners.

Had it not been for two glaring errors and Harry Kane's penalty miss, the hosts would have run out winners, and a large part of that was because of the midfield displays.

It was only Lewis-Skelly's seventh England cap, but at 20 years of age, he looks like he has been playing at the highest level for many years, and it is the reason why Tuchel and Mikel Arteta are such big fans of the youngster.

Despite Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Zubimendi arriving at the Emirates in big-money moves over the course of the last two summer transfer windows, Lewis-Skelly has played more than both of those central midfielders in the Premier League so far this term.

Arteta may have wished he played the Englishman last time out against Brighton and Hove Albion too, as the north Londoners fell to a shock 3-0 defeat after Rice and Guimaraes started alongside each other for the first time.

Lewis-Skelly (Premier League 2026-27)

- Appearances 4 - Starts 4 - Minutes 273 - Shots 3 - Goals 0 - Goals conceded when on pitch 1 - Pass accuracy 93.2% - Aerial duels won 100% - Fouls won 7

While Lewis-Skelly has impressed at left-back previously for Arsenal, pundits Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer were in agreement about him on the latest Rest is Football episode after his latest outing in the middle of the park.

> Shearer said: "I know he played in midfield last season but his rise this season to go into Arsenal and into England’s midfield has been remarkable."

> Lineker responded: "It has [been remarkable]. It’s funny because you’ve got Nico O’Reilly who is really a midfield player turned left-back and you’ve got Lewis-Skelly who is a full-back and seems to have turned into a midfield player.

> Obviously when they grow up nowadays they kind of play everywhere, all these positions, so it’s really good for them. But they’re two exceptional footballers. I think he’s done really well in that midfield role filling the boots of Declan Rice.

> "Big responsibility against Spain, especially when you’ve got one of the midfielders, Jude Bellingham, who is primarily in forward positions. I thought both Lewis-Skelly and Elliot Anderson in there were exceptional."

It's no surprise that Lewis-Skelly is gaining admiring glances from some of the top pundits, having stepped up and shown he belonged against elite-level opposition in Spain.

If he continues on his current trajectory, and becomes a mainstay in the Arsenal midfield, it will raise big doubts over the future of Martin Zubimendi.

The Spaniard joined the Gunners in a big-money deal last summer, but he has found first-team minutes hard to come by this term.

Martin Zubimendi in 2026-27

- Appearances 8 - Starts 1 - Minutes 197 - Goals 0 - Assists 1

It's clear that if Declan Rice is fit, he is the club's number one central midfielder, and he deserves to be given how good and influential he has been in recent seasons.

The battle to play alongside him is fascinating, especially after Arsenal paid £75m to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes in the summer.

The 29-year-old won't have been happy that his first Premier League start alongside Rice ended in a heavy defeat before the extended international break, and Arteta has a decision to make against Leeds United next time out.

At Guimaraes' price, you would expect the Brazilian to start more often than not, but clearly Lewis-Skelly has something about that too, given the level of performances he is currently producing for club and country.

He is one of the best in his position in European football

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