Declan Rice compares Myles Lewis-Skelly to 'underrated' Premier League cult hero who Kevin De Bruyne called 'best in world'

Arsenal star Declan Rice compared team-mate Myles Lewis-Skelly to a Premier League cult hero after their side's 2-1 win over Tottenham in the north London derby.

Spurs took a first half lead through Son Heung-min but struggled to impose themselves on the encounter after scoring.

Arsenal fought back and held a 2-1 lead at half-time after a Dominic Solanke own goal and Leandro Trossard's 20-yard strike past Antonin Kinsky.

The Gunners did enough to win the match in the second half and limited Tottenham to few opportunities, and could have added more goals to scoreline but had several missed chances.

One player that hugely impressed the Gunners fanbase was Rice, who produced an all-action display in midfield before being substituted late on.

He came off the pitch at the same time as left-back Lewis-Skelly, with the 18-year-old having put in another composed performance which saw him regularly invert into the midfield.

The Arsenal youth product hyped up the crowd as he left the field of play, having been pushed off at the nearest exit point by Spurs players after attempting to walk to the other side of the pitch.

Speaking after the game on TNT Sports, Rice praised Lewis-Skelly's performance and maturity - and compared him to a Premier League cult hero.

Rice explained: "He's got that Mousa Dembele trait, to use his body to get away from things.

"I'm not just saying it. But where he uses his body to get away from stuff and sometimes it's risky, but to show that at 18, and the personality and character, honestly it's unbelievable."

"We're unlucky we probably didn't score 10 tonight"

Declan Rice reflects on Arsenal's win in the North London Derby 👀

🎙@lynseyhipgrave1 | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/KLSYHcrZP2

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025

Former Spurs star Dembele had a slow start to his time in the Premier League after moving to north London in 2013, but quickly established as a reputation as one of the ball recyclers in the division alongside his strong defensive abilities.

His Belgium team-mate and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne once recalled: "For me, in a 5-a-side, he's the best player in the world.

"So strong on the ball, you can never take it off him. Offensively and defensively, one of the best."