Mikel Arteta raves about Myles Lewis-Skelly's 'special character' after heated altercation with Erling Haaland

Myles Lewis-Skelly won the hearts of the Arsenal faithful after taking on Erling Haaland, and manager Mikel Arteta loved it too.

The 17-year-old made his senior debut on Sunday. 2-2 draw Away from Manchester City, replacing Jurrien Timber at the last moment.

And the Hale End star, who even received a yellow card for dissent before coming on, immediately showed his mettle by Getting into Haaland's face to defend his teammate Gabriel after the final whistle.

While the Norwegian striker tried to intimidate the Gunners Defender Lewis-Skelly intervened, unfazed by the enraged Norwegian international.

Despite the Premier League's record scorer towering over him, he stayed in front of him, shaking up the goal machine in the process.

Haaland He proceeded to ask the youngster 'who the hell he is' as tempers flared at the Etihad Stadium as the ten-man Gunners ended City's 100 per cent start to the season.

Ilkay Gundogan had to push the academy graduate away from his Citizens teammate, with Lewis-Skelly exemplifying Arsenal's new attitude That they are not afraid of anyone.

The incident was raised at Arteta's pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday night's Carabao Cup third-round clash against Bolton, where the teenager could receive his first start.

When asked what that shows about his character, Arteta He gushed: “He's a competitor.

“You watch him, every game he goes to, the way he reacts to his teammates.

“You talk to him and there's constant eye contact, he nods, he asks questions, he's a special character.”

Arteta also praised Lewis-Skelly's versatility, as he stressed that he will be given plenty of opportunities to showcase his immense talent this season.

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The Spaniard said: “He can play in three positions, left back, number 6, number 8, he is very versatile.”

“He adapts, he can occupy different spaces, he is very adaptable and that is what is good about Myles.

“He's very smart, very thorough, he has incredible questions every time you ask him to do something.

“And he has the competitiveness that I think is required at this level.

“He really wants it, so we're going to use him in different positions.”

Big things are expected of Lewis-Skelly and fellow Hale Ender Ethan Nwaneri, with Arteta stating the duo are keen to feature more regularly.

He said: “Those two are very insistent, very demanding. They want everything. They want to see everything. They want more and more information. They love it.”

“You can tell they are passionate about it. They see the opportunity and want to grab it with both hands.

“It’s fantastic to work with them.”

And both are expected to be in the starting XI when Arsenal host League One side Bolton at the Emirates Stadium in a bid to secure a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

With midfielders Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino out injured along with full-backs Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri could all get more Premier League game time in the near future.

It's just what England youth coach Emile Heskey predicted last year when… He told talkSPORT The pair are set to break into Arsenal's first team.

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