Myles Lewis-Skelly possesses such confidence, composure and fearlessness that the teenager will surely be a major player for Arsenal going forward.
And the buccaneering left-back is very good at going forward. The only problem with Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal fans is fitting his long name into a chant, let alone one that rhymes.
They settled for ‘one of our own’, the ultimate accolade they could bestow.
Having a home-grown presence matters hugely. It matters emotionally for connection between fans and team. It matters financially for Profit and Sustainability Rules. It matters for squad competition, rest and rotation. It may soon also matter for England.
This was more than an eye-catching scoreline by Arsenal, this was a statement of intent, and one shaped by young Lewis-Skelly.
It helped that Manchester City’s defending bordered on the shambolic at times.
Arsenal sensed a vulnerability and pressed and punished, overturning possession, picking off loose passes, scoring through Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri.
Lewis-Skelly scored the third Arsenal goal which really killed off City, whose second-half collapse must have alarmed their fans.
He was showered with praise by his teammates afterwards, but the best compliment Martin Odegaard and company paid Lewis-Skelly was they kept trusting him with the ball, even under pressure.
They knew he had the mental and physical strength to withstand City’s (intermittent) press. They knew he had the touch.
Declan Rice, outstanding all game, ushered Lewis-Skelly in from the left just after the hour.
The effortless way he eluded John Stones again highlighted the 18-year-old’s class and character.
Lewis-Skelly took the ball with his left foot to make Stones go one way and then calmly stroked the ball with his right past the bemused, unbalanced centre-back and past the unsighted Stefan Ortega.
There was also a degree of cockiness in which Lewis-Skelly, who has already shushed Tottenham fans this season, mimicked Erling Haaland’s meditation celebration.
One of their own soon became two of their own.
Nwaneri, aged 17 years old, was not completely fit, so he started on the bench, but came on to stunning effect. He scored Arsenal’s fifth, the very red icing on the cake.
Again, Rice provided an assist from the left, this time sweeping a 50-yard crossfield pass. Nwaneri’s first touch was adhesive, followed by three more with his left and then a curling finish around Ortega, who looked too shellshocked to react.
Nwaneri operated as a No.10 during much of his rise through the Arsenal ranks but arguably looks best cutting in off the right and onto that dangerous left foot. That, of course, is the kingdom of Bukayo Saka, another of Arsenal’s own.
The emergence and increasing prominence of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, following Saka’s magnificent example over the past six years, shows how Mikel Arteta evolves Arsenal further.
There was something very symbolic in the link-up between Rice, a superstar signing, and Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, a powerful mix of established elite talent and emerging.
Even if the odds are heavily against Arsenal catching Liverpool, the trust in Arteta’s management and in the team’s future deserves to be strong.
The debate will continue about Arsenal needing a No.9 will continue but otherwise so much is right about Arteta’s team and squad.
City develop talented youngsters, but Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers were sold, Rico Lewis is back on the bench, James McAtee came on for a few minutes but wants more. Phil Foden’s recent good form was absent here.
There were many contrasts with City. Such an organised club as City should really have started the rebuilding work earlier, and now look to have brought next summer’s signings like Omar Marmoush forward.
Marmoush showed some neat touches but will need time to pick up the pace of English football.
Lying 14 points off the top, City have all-but surrendered their title, and their Champions League ambitions may be ended by Real Madrid.
City still have talent, such as Haaland, who briefly made it 1-1 with a towering header, and Josko Gvardiol, who twice tested David Raya, but they still haven’t found a playmaking successor to Kevin De Bruyne, who came on when all was lost here.
Ortega is no replacement for the injured Ederson. Stones has been a magnificent servant for City, winner of six titles and played well against Club Brugge in midweek, but he couldn’t handle Arsenal’s relentless press.
There was nobody protecting the back-four properly. Rodri’s ACL has cost City dear. Ruben Dias’ adductor deprived City of their main defensive leader.
Pe Guardiola cut an increasingly frustrated figure. His team has lost its fear factor. They certainly lost the ball too often.
And where were the leaders? Bernardo Silva is a fine footballer but not one for rallying the troops in a battle. Nobody seemed to be raging against the fading of their light.
Unlike Arsenal. They had to win and did, the will to win embodied by Lewis-Skelly.
