Henry backs Lewis-Skelly to earn Atletico Madrid start after 'outstanding' Fulham showing

Thierry Henry has made a compelling case for Myles Lewis-Skelly to feature in Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, following the youngster's eye-catching midfield performance last weekend.

The Gunners arrive at the clash with Diego Simeone's side riding the back of consecutive victories, while Manchester City's stalemate at Everton has restored Arsenal to pole position in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal's 3-0 demolition of Fulham on Saturday showcased a marked improvement in their recent displays, with Bukayo Saka's return to the starting line-up providing immediate dividends. Yet it was Lewis-Skelly who caught the eye, making his first competitive start in his preferred central midfield role with Martin Zubimendi afforded a breather following a demanding spell.

The academy product's box-to-box energy proved transformative, and Henry is tempted by the prospect of Arteta handing the teenager another outing against the Spanish outfit.

"Myles was just different," Henry told Sky Sports on Monday. "I didn't see Zubimendi do that often – the legs, anticipation, stopping someone, boom, making someone feel that you are there; he was there all the time."

On whether Lewis-Skelly deserves a starting berth in such a high-stakes fixture, Henry acknowledged the tactical dilemma facing Arteta. "Because of the magnitude of the game, he's going to think to be a bit more secure," he explained. "But Lewis-Skelly showed that that might be a new position for him in terms of next season. He did extremely well. I wouldn't mind if he starts him but then I can understand because of the magnitude of the game and how Zubimendi plays, sometimes you need to be a tiny bit more secure."

Given his limited minutes this term, Lewis-Skelly's composure stood out. "It's one thing to be patient. It's one thing to maybe be upset about the situation. But he was ready," Henry continued. "He didn't look like he didn't play for a very long time. He controlled the game. He went forward. He buzzed the game at times. That's outstanding."

However, Jamie Carragher pinpointed an alternative shift that may have been equally decisive in Arsenal's upturn. The former Liverpool defender credited Declan Rice's repositioning to a deeper role as the real game-changer across the club's last two outings.

"Myles Lewis-Skelly was fantastic, but I think a big thing for me in Arsenal's last two games was Declan Rice going deeper," Carragher said. "There's a bit more dynamism with Rice rather than Zubimendi in that position. He's onto things quicker and passes it quicker, he's sharper."

Carragher believes Rice's versatility makes him a complete midfielder capable of operating at both six and eight. "When I was watching him play, it almost looked like he was really enjoying it, running everywhere for the ball," he added. "It was almost like, 'I'm back in my position, in the six. I can get on the ball a little bit easier.' I thought he was outstanding at the weekend. I thought he played really well and controlled the game against Madrid as well."

The pundit's verdict? Maintain Rice in the deeper berth regardless of Zubimendi's fitness. "I think going forward, even if Zubimendi plays, just leave him there at six for now."