Celtic hero Kieran Tierney was involved in one of Arsenal’s greatest-ever nights on Tuesday.
With injuries across the board and a Premier League title heading to Liverpool, not many were giving Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal much hope against the might of Real Madrid on Europe’s biggest stage.
After all, the Spanish giants are the Champions League holders, but they were left shocked when the full-time whistle blew in north London.
Celtic fans know everything about a famous Champions League night, and Arsenal delivered their greatest by beating Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Tierney came on as a second-half substitute, with ten minutes left on the clock, for free-kick star, Declan Rice.
Even though Tierney has returned to action for some while now and has been injury-free for months, there is a reason why he isn’t starting games for Arsenal, and his name is, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Myles Lewis-Skelly produces a masterclass as Arsenal beat Real Madrid in the Champions League
Before a ball was kicked this season, Lewis-Skelly was an unknown figure outside of the four walls of Arsenal, but now he has just produced a masterclass, at the age of 18, against Real Madrid.
Jamie Carragher was left amazed by what he saw from the teenager and compared him to Jude Bellingham, who was on the pitch at the Emirates, and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.
The former Liverpool defender, who won the Champions League in 2005, is in no doubt that Lewis-Skelly is a ‘very, very special’ player, as he told CBS Sports.
“You talk about fullbacks, and you think of, at Liverpool with Trent, they are a little bit different,” said Carragher. “They aren’t a normal fullback.
“More often than not, if a young player comes through, especially at a big club, the easiest position to come through is probably fullback. You (Micah Richards) did that. I did that. I am not saying it’s an easy position, but you don’t have to be spectacular.
“But he is spectacular at left-back, and he looks like almost one of the best players in the Arsenal team. He is going into central midfield. He is receiving the ball on the half-turn. He has Mbappe and Vini Junior on either side of him. He is taking responsibility.
“That’s where I go back to football arrogance. It’s not about position. It reminds me a bit of Bellingham at that age. Also, Wayne Rooney.
“When Wayne Rooney first came into the England squad, and I was in the squad, he was almost like, ‘I am the best player. Give me the ball’. No fear, and he would take the ball in difficult situations. He’s got that thing like he is playing like he’s 26 and has been playing all his life. He is very, very special.”
Celtic benefit from Lewis-Skelly’s genius as Kieran Tierney to return
There have been some Arsenal fans who would prefer Tierney to stay, and the only thing that has held him back is injuries.
But the powers that be at Arsenal, aren’t only happy to let him go, but that on a free transfer.
When you look at Lewis-Skelly’s progression, his age and what he has been doing during these past months, then you can understand why Tierney is being let go, and you have to say that Celtic are benefiting from it.
In a strange way, both parties are winners here, as WhoScored rated Lewis-Skelly’s performance at 7.83 against Madrid.
| Assists | Key Passes | Dribbles | Fouled | Passes | PA% | Total tackles | Touches | Rating |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 57 | 94.7 | 2 | 74 | 7.83 |
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