Arsenal's teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly is making waves, and the football world is taking notice. The 19-year-old academy graduate earned glowing praise from former Arsenal defender Matt Upson and ex-England goalkeeper Rob Green after a standout performance against Atletico Madrid—a match that saw him "not look out of place at all" on a big European stage.

Mikel Arteta showed immense faith in the youngster, handing him just his second start in midfield for the first team. It was a bold move, especially with £60m signing Martin Zubimendi waiting on the bench. But for Upson, the decision was no surprise given Lewis-Skelly's remarkable maturity.

"Everything I hear about this lad isn't about the footballer he is but about the character he has," Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "I hear really positive things about him being able to cope in really tough situations. He has a clear ability to rationalise things and deliver at every single level."

Upson highlighted how Lewis-Skelly has already slipped seamlessly into international football, calling that rare for a player his age. "You've got to have something a little bit special to be able to do that. He has an amazing attitude and belief system, while also being able to absorb information. He is also just a genuinely nice person who wants to do well for himself and see the club doing well. When all of that is in the mix, you get a player who can step on to any stage and perform like he did against Atletico Madrid."

Rob Green echoed the sentiment, giving credit to Arteta for his tactical instinct. "You have to give credit to Arteta in this instance too. He recognised it was a big game, big pressure, big players—and he made the call to keep £60m signing Martin Zubimendi on the bench. It was interesting he picked that specific moment for Lewis-Skelly. It might have been because something clicked in training or because of a gut instinct—whatever it was, it paid off."

For Arsenal fans, seeing a homegrown talent rise to the occasion in a high-stakes Champions League clash is a thrilling sign of the club's bright future. And for those looking to rep the next generation of Gunners stars, Lewis-Skelly's story is one to watch closely.