Myles Lewis-Skelly exclusive: Arsenal's newest star on the No More Red campaign, Bukayo Saka's influence and facing Man Utd in the FA Cup

As part of No More Red, Arsenal have invested in three new safe spaces for youngsters to play football, refurbishing pitches at Harvist Estate, Mayville Estate and King Square in Islington, while Peckwater Estate in Camden is next in line and will open later in 2025. Over 500 people used these pitches last year alone.

Lewis-Skelly, pictured below with local hero and youth violence campaigner Zakaria Hassan, is an Islington native born just a stone's throw away from Arsenal's Emirates Stadium base in Holloway. He felt it was important to him to step up and put his face to such a campaign built around this area.

"This is my community," Lewis-Skelly said. "I'm from north London and so this means a lot growing up here. Just being able to play in a safe place is important.

"It feels like there's a lot of Arsenal supporters here coming together, to be able to celebrate this campaign for hopefully many more years to come. For everyone to be part of it, to come together for a safe place to play football."

No More Red also aims to turn the community spotlight onto role models, those who go the extra mile to make their world, in north London and beyond, a better place.

Though he only turned 18 in September, Lewis-Skelly clearly has a mature head on his young shoulders, citing the desire to be a role model himself as part of the rationale behind his involvement in No More Red.

"100%," he replied when asked if he wants to receive that sort of admiration and aspiration too. "It's important to have role models, people you look up to who have had similar journeys, but also people in general having a decency to show empathy and understanding. You have to be a role model to show that quality so I feel understanding and empathy is important."

Lewis-Skelly's mother, Marcia, is renowned for her own work within the game. In the summer of 2024, she founded No1Fan.club - an organisation to help parents of young and aspiring footballers through the complex world of sport through various helpful schemes.

It's why it was no surprise that Lewis-Skelly immediately labelled her as his top role model when asked by GOAL. "My mother, someone I look up to, who's shown nurturing and understanding," he answered, calling back to two of those core characteristics he values highly.

Arsenal have always prided themselves on bringing through academy talent and developing players from the English capital. Lewis-Skelly is not the only star to have featured under Mikel Arteta during this fine period of Arsenal's recent history.

Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest player in Premier League history and someone Lewis-Skelly has rubbed shoulders with at youth level for years, is also making waves this season, most recently scoring in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Brighton. Then, of course, you have the shining example of Bukayo Saka, the darling prince of Arsenal on his way to immortality.

"It's felt really good seeing the likes of Bukayo that have helped me come through, it's been quite a smooth transition," Lewis-Skelly said. "The importance of people like that who have come before me have helped me a lot. That's really helped me out. They're definitely role models."

This new Arsenal have a clear identity again, and it still relies heavily on the contributions of homegrown players. Saka, a No More Red ambassador in previous seasons and the crown jewel of the academy, is but one example for Lewis-Skelly to follow.

"I'd definitely say the senior players have helped me a lot," he added. "Every day learning from them, the habits that they pick up, inspiring me. I can learn so much from them and they're willing to share, which is also really good."

Whatever has been shared with Lewis-Skelly has clearly been taken on board, too. He's made 13 senior appearances already this season, including four as the starting left-back in the last month alone.

Few people can claim to have been at Arsenal from the age of eight and made it into the first-team squad, but Lewis-Skelly is part of a select group. Over the years through his time in the club's famed Hale End academy, he has worn all sorts of kits with that famous cannon adorned.

"It means the world, you know? Just being able to put the shirt on every matchday means the world," he said, before pointing to the role of his mother again. "Even me coming on for my Champions League debut, you see what it means to my mum, my school... It means the world to them."

The added novelty of Arsenal's No More Red kits is they are not, never have been and never will be for sale. Since the initiative started in 2022, only 210 shirts have been dished out to select residents, community partners, volunteers and role models who have contributed to the local area.

Should he feature in Sunday's visit of Manchester United, this will be the first time Lewis-Skelly will have worn the special all-white of the No More Red kit, of which he is a fan.

"It's nice and clean, hopefully I can be part of it. It's nice," he trailed off with a smile, gazing down at the detailing of the top. "Playing in the FA Cup against Man United, to wear the shirt, it's a big symbolic thing!"

While Arsenal's men's team will don the all-white kit against Manchester United, the women's side will wear it on the same day in their own FA Cup clash with Bristol City at Meadow Park.

Kit supplier and initiative co-founders adidas said: "We're incredibly proud to be entering the fourth year of No More Red. It is our ambition that sport be a source of community and well-being for all, and working with Arsenal, our partners and some of the young people doing great things in their community, has been an inspiring experience. Together we remain committed to providing safe spaces and a chance for connection and celebration for the role models who are driving real change in their local area."

Freddie Hudson, Head of Arsenal in the Community added: "Knife crime and serious youth violence is incredibly complex. We don't have the solution to fix the problem, but we know our work with adidas is helping keep young people safe and create opportunities for more positive futures.

"It's important we continue to invest in safe spaces where we engage young people facing multiple challenges as they navigate their way through their lives. This is where trust is built, and positive relationships develop with our staff.

"Being part of something positive like No More Red creates an important sense of belonging. The safe spaces and trusted relationships lead to connections and opportunities like volunteering, education and employment. Over time, we see young leaders emerge from our projects to inspire and influence other young people to make good life choices."

For more information on the No More Red campaign, visit arsenal.com/nomorered and adidas.co.uk/footballcollective.