Declan Rice claims ‘ridiculous’ Arsenal academy star was built in a lab

Declan Rice has heaped praise on ‘ridiculous’ Arsenal teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly, claiming that the academy star must’ve been built in a lab.

Lewis-Skelly has started the Gunners’ last three Premier League games at left-back, helping Arsenal bag clean sheets against Ipswich and Everton.

The 18-year-old Hale End graduate has enjoyed a breakthrough season, having made his senior debut under Mikel Arteta in September.

Rice has been left blown away by the teenager and lauded him following the 1-0 victory over Ipswich in north London on Friday night.

‘He can go to the top,’ Rice told Arsenal’s website. ‘This kid is just special, very special.

‘For an 18-year-old to be that good, that comfortable, that strong – it was like he was built in a lab.

‘I said that to him the other day, it’s just ridiculous how good he is, but he has a long way to go.

‘He’s so level-headed, he’s got a great family around him, I know his mum looks after him really well and all the boys at the training ground do too.

‘We have a really good crop of youngsters coming through and he can be what he wants to be, he just needs to stay focused and always want more and he can do that.’

Rice also singled out Leandro Trossard for praise after the Belgian provided the assist for Kai Havertz’s winner at the Emirates.

‘He does it time and time again,’ Rice added. ‘He can go on his left, can go on his right, creates, he scores.

‘I don’t think he was feeling too well (against Ipswich) as well, so to put in a 90-minute shift like he’s done, credit to him.

‘He’s one of my good friends here so he’s a special player.’

Arsenal are back in action on New Year’s Day when they lock horns with Brentford in the top-flight.