One name eclipsed all when Arsenal’s starting line-up was read out ahead of their final pre-season friendly against Como.The decibel levels rose noticeably as ‘Number 49, Myles Lewis-Skelly’ was read among their other starters.The 19-year-old academy graduate has been at the centre of transfer speculation this week as Manchester United and Chelsea’s interest in the England intenational has resurfaced, but rather than turn on a teenager who wants to stay at his boyhood club, those inside the Emirates Stadium tried to do what he has done since he broke into their first team: connect.Every club loves academy players, but Lewis-Skelly’s status among Arsenal fans was set before he had even kicked a ball for Mikel Arteta’s side.He entered Arsenal folklore back in September 2024, receiving a booking for running behind Arsenal’s goal to communicate with David Raya 30 minutes before he came on for his first-team debut away to Manchester City.After full time, a then-17-year-old Lewis-Skelly was at the centre of the action as Erling Haaland began a war of words with anyone he could see affiliated with Arsenal, including Arteta. From that moment, Arsenal fans have been bonded to the player they repurposed their famous ’49, 49, Undefeated’ chant for.So, in the midst of all the commotion surrounding him this week, it was fitting that Lewis-Skelly was the one to put Arsenal 1-0 up against Como. The finish was calm, and came after good pressing from himself and Viktor Gyokeres, but the celebration that followed was what mattered.Some have interpreted him clasping his hands together before forming a love heart aimed towards the fans as an apology, but in person, it felt like anything but.First of all, there is nothing Lewis-Skelly would have to apologise for. Secondly, it was a moment in which he was able to reciprocate the love shown to him less than half an hour earlier and show where his heart was in that moment.(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)“He’s a very emotional player,” Arteta said when asked about the celebration post-match. “Remember when he did the gestures on the pitch (the Haaland celebration when he scored in Arsenal’s next meeting with Manchester City after his debut — a 5-1 home win).“I’m not going to talk about any speculation. If there is speculation about our players, it’s a good sign. It means we attract attention and they’re doing a good job.”The final part of that statement is true in Lewis-Skelly’s case.After spending most of last season fighting an uphill battle to play at left-back, his late midfield inclusion midfield in May reinvigorated Arsenal with the energy they needed to leave City in their wake during the title race, and take Paris Saint-Germain all the way in the Champions League final.At the time, Arteta said: “It’s been a process of understanding him (Lewis-Skelly) better. Him understanding a lot of the standards that are required when you play or don’t play that much at this level. To understand the reason why you play or not as well.”Since then, the teenager has started all of Arsenal’s pre-season games in midfield with regular starters away due to their international commitments during the summer. Arteta feels Lewis-Skelly has been “really consistent” throughout this pre-season and that momentum has carried from game to game.Away in Girona, it was his pass that sparked the attack for Kai Havertz’s opener (assisted by Max Dowman). At home against Como, he started well with a trademark dribble through midfield to win a foul before some nice interplay with Eberechi Eze further upfield.By the time he had celebrated his goal, sections of the stands had started singing his chant while others brought out renditions of ‘He’s one of our own’. And aside from how good Lewis-Skelly is at football, that aspect of this situation is arguably the most important.While there will always be clamour and excitement over new signings, the feeling across a club when a child can progress through the ranks and become a man that identifies with the thousands that watch him in the stadium is unquantifiable. Lewis-Skelly’s character, summed up when he quipped “They called us bottlers, and now we’re holding the bottles” after it was confirmed Arsenal were Premier League champions, only helps to illustrate the authenticity of his connection with those who watch him.Add that his pinned post on Instagram is still the picture of him with the Premier League trophy captioned with the jibe ‘Pure Profit’ and it is clear to see where his head has been for months.