Jamie Carragher has piled praise on “very, very special” Myles Lewis-Skelly by saying the Arsenal youngster has a similar “arrogance” to a young Wayne Rooney.
And after Lewis-Skelly’s shining performance against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday night, Carragher is already willing to put him in rare air following a “spectacular” breakthrough campaign under Mikel Arteta.
Lewis-Skelly has now made 29 appearances in all competitions and has become the Gunners’ first-choice left back. He also earned a senior England call-up last month, scoring on his debut.
“You talk about full backs and you think of sort at Liverpool with Trent they’re a little bit different,” former Liverpool star Carragher said on CBS.
“They’re not a normal full back and you just mentioned what a young full back would be. Normally at a big club, when a young player comes through, the easiest position to come through is probably full back.
“You (pointing at Micah Richards) did that (at Man City), I did that (at Liverpool). You bed yourself into the game. I’m not saying it’s an easy position, but you don’t have to be spectacular if you like.
“But he’s spectacular at left back and he looks like one of the best players in the Arsenal team. He’s going into central midfield and receiving the ball on the half turn. He’s got Mbappe and Vinicius Jnr either side of him, he’s taking responsibility.’
And those qualities reminded Carragher of Manchester United legend Rooney, who was convinced from early in his career that he was the best player on the pitch.
“That’s where I go back to football arrogance,” he added. “And it’s not about position, it reminds me a little bit of Jude Bellingham at that age and Rooney.
“When Wayne Rooney first came into the England squad it was almost like I’m the best player, give me the ball, no fear, you take the ball in difficult situations.
“When we were young players it was like you wanted to get your first pass off, don’t give the ball away just want to almost build into a game. But he’s got that thing like he’s 26 and been playing all of his life and he is very, very special.”
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