Five reasons Arsenal were Myles better than Tottenham as Mikel Arteta’s side dominate Postecoglou’s flops
Five reasons Arsenal were Myles better than Tottenham as Mikel Arteta’s side dominate Postecoglou’s flops
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ARSENAL proved themselves to be Myles better than underperforming Tottenham in the North London derby earlier this week. Spurs took an early lead at the Emirates through Son Heung-Min but were undone by a Dominic Solanke own goal and Leandro Trossard arrow late in the first half.
![[Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal player, running on the pitch.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/myles-lewis-skelly-arsenal-premier-964200115.jpg?strip=all&w=686)
Ange Postecoglou's side then had no answers to reverse the score in the second half as Mikel Arteta's side put in a mature, if unremarkable, performance. Yet it was Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly who proved to be the star of the show as he put in an assured display well beyond his years.
![[Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal celebrating.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/myles-lewis-skelly-arsenal-celebrates-964200472.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
There was also a noteworthy showing from Declan Rice and a new-look pressing system deployed. There were also the usual suspects of set-piece tweaks, and below our tactics guru Dean Scoggins looked at how Arsenal punctured Ange-ball. Lewis-Skelly has stepped into Arsenal's backline masterfully despite being just 18 years of age and naturally a midfielder.
![[Mikel Arteta and Ange Postecoglou shaking hands at a soccer game.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/editorial-use-no-use-unauthorised-963993652.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And when he came off the pitch after giving it large to the Spurs fans it was reminiscent of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey doing similar in years past. Arteta made the decision to select him ahead of a more natural option like Oleksandr Zinchenko, and it proved dividends.
![[Illustration of Lewis Skelly's game statistics against Spurs.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SKELLY-PLAYER-CARD.png?strip=all&w=960)
Lewis-Skelly was excellent up against Spurs' dangerman Dejan Kulusevski. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. But tactically, the star did not fully invert. Instead, Lewis-Skelly went halfway with the role, leaving Kulusevski with a conundrum on whether to mark him or not, whereas a fully inverted role would have allowed another player to pick him up.
![[Myles Lewis-Skelly heatmap from Arsenal's 2-1 win over Tottenham; 48 touches.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SKELLY-HEAT-MAP-1.png?strip=all&w=960)
