Timber: It is ‘a joy’ to watch Lewis-Skelly play | OneFootball

Myles Lewis-Skelly’s outbreak has been the story of Arsenal’s season as he has dazzled fans, players, and pundits since debuting against Manchester City in September.

The 18-year-old has gone on to make 13 senior appearances this season, most recently shining in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Newcastle.

Despite the scoreline, Jurrien Timber was sufficiently impressed by his showing to highlight his quality post-match, pointing to his maturity as a key trait.

He said: “I think he’s unbelievable. He looks so mature, not just on the pitch but also just as a person.

“He’s far above his age and, just like the fans, it’s a joy to see him play.”

With a two-goal deficit to overcome, Arsenal will need both Timber and Lewis-Skelly at their best if they are to progress. An away day on Tyneside, however, is never an appealing prospect.

Timber continued: “We know it’s going to be tough but I’ve got the belief in our guys that there’s a chance to come back but that’s for in a month’s time.”

Arsenal’s schedule is not set to get any easier, as they are set to host Manchester United in the FA Cup third round, which Timber sees as an opportunity to recover from League Cup defeat.

“The focus now is on this weekend but we definitely have to learn from what happened today.

“United is always a big game, another cup game. United at home, you want to give the fans something to celebrate, so we’re going to give it our all on Sunday.

“We played them already, like a month ago, so we know what we’re getting. We know that they have a good squad with a lot of good players, so it’s not going to be easy but we’ll be ready.”

Still recovering from a knee injury suffered early in the season, Timber’s focus is staying fit and mitigating Arsenal’s growing injury issues.

He reaffirmed: “I think everyone can tell that we’re struggling with some injuries.

“I’m just trying to stay fit and give everything for the team and win games. That’s it for me.”