Hale End Duo are Arsenal’s Champions League Star Boys | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta handed teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly his first Champions League start as felllow academy graduate Bukayo Saka starred in a comprehensive win over French side Monaco.

Saka made it 14 goal involvements (eight goals, six assists) from 14 Champions League start to put this match beyond Monaco’s reach. After scoring the first two goals he set up the third for substitute Kai Havertz.

A top eight finish in the 36-team league also frees them from the inconvenience of a two-legged play-off in February. They lie third, behind Barcelona and Liverpool. They now have a European break until January’s visit of relative strugglers Dinamo Zagreb and a trip to even lower-ranked Spanish side Girona.

Smiling Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was happy to discuss the contribution of his local heroes afterwards.

Arteta said: “Bukayo keeps surprising us. That’s what he wants to do. That’s the quality that he has, that’s the ambition that he has and how he’s preparing himself every day. I’m not surprised, but it’s very difficult to do what he’s doing.”

Asked if he should be considered on a par with world class finishers such as Harry Kane and Vinicius Jr, Arteta added: “You have to be able to do that consistently for many years to be in that position. What he’s done at his age you can put it in brackets because you can compare what he’s done in his first six years of professional football – which is exceptional. That’s it. His aim is to improve. He has the players and the environment around to continue to do that and I’m sure he will.”

Next hot topic was Lewis-Skelly, who turned 18 in October and became Arsenal’s youngest player to start in the Champions League since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011.

Arteta added: “A really proud moment. He’s one of our own, 18-years-old and he makes his debut starting in the Champions League. It’s just a joy to watch him and a privilege to give a chance to somebody to start to change his career. He certainly took the chance. It’s great that we can trust him and that he can play in this environment with this level.

“I was really happy with his performance.In pre-season he opened our eyes to say ‘I’m ready’. The same with Ethan Nwaneri. They feel comfortable in this environment and they can compete not just play which is very important at this level. Today he’s show that he’s at the level.”