Ruud van Nistelrooy has declared that Myles Lewis-Skelly’s crucial block was the ‘turning point’ for Arsenal in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Leicester City.
It looked like the Gunners were heading for a draw against Van Nistelrooy’s team, before Mikel Merino scored two late goals to secure all three points.
The Foxes could’ve taken the lead themselves in the 73rd minute when the score was locked at 0-0, if it wasn’t for Lewis-Skelly’s stunning intervention.
Jordan Ayew fired a low cross along the six-yard area – which Bobby De Cordova-Reid seemed almost certain to turn home with a tap-in – after it flew past a beaten David Raya.
But Gunners left-back Lewis-Skelly got there in the nick of time to somehow deflect the ball out for a corner, rather than into his own net.
Speaking after the match, former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy, head coach of Leicester, admitted the game ‘turned’ after that moment.
‘Thin margins,’ Van Nistelrooy told the BBC after his side’s defeat to Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.
‘The chance of Bobby De Cordova-Reid, just touched by Myles Lewis-Skelly with the Jordan Ayew cross… you can get up in the game in a goal.
‘You can lift the spirt, gain momentum from the crowd [if you score]. I think that was the turning point.
‘They [then] scored in the 81st minute. We were in the game for a result, maybe a win, but that makes it hard.’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, hailed Lewis-Skelly for his ‘magic touch’ to deny De Cordova-Reid the opening goal.
‘The second half was very different [to the first],’ Arteta said in his post-match press conference.
‘We had much more urgency, better intentions, better executions. And then you can sense that the game was going in the direction that it had to go.
‘Saying that, it’s a moment when we give the ball away in the middle of the park.
‘The space is open in the counter and Myles has to make a magic touch to deny the goal.’
Lewis-Skelly, along with fellow Hale End academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri, also received praise from teammate Jurrien Timber after the match.
‘You almost forget they are so young,’ Arsenal defender Timber told the BBC.
‘They are amazing for that age. It’s from a different level and the sky is the limit for them.’
Arsenal fans left blown away by Myles Lewis-Skelly block
Arsenal fans lauded Lewis-Skelly on social media after his touch stopped De Cordova-Reid from scoring.
‘A star is born,’ Gunners supporter @Arsenalfds posted on X. ‘Thank for that goal line save today, @lewisskelly49. That could’ve cost us some points.’
‘That Lewis skelly touch to give Leicester a corner kick really changed everything,’ @ChuiKev added.
‘Incredible read from Lewis-Skelly to keep the score level,’ @DeepikaaMurugan said. ‘Arsenal staying solid.’
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