22.04.2025 – (12:01 PM) Htate

Modern football demands a lot from full-backs. They can also overlap and run along the wing, supporting the wingers. They can also underlap and create space in the midfield. Managers often want full-backs who can do both. Even if they are good at one style, they can still find a place in modern football. Scully is good at both. He can play both styles in the same game. That is incredible tactical intelligence from such a youngster. Arsenal Under-18s manager Wilshere described Scully as: “You have qualities that you can’t create with coaching.”

Carragher, a former Liverpool and England player and football pundit, said: “The way Miles is playing now is the way Zinchenko has been playing for a long time. But Miles is more effective and has a better vision than Zinchenko. He is a left-footed player who plays on the left wing. He then comes inside. He can also create routes into the opposition’s defence. It is incredible to see him play with such maturity at his age.”

Scully emerged as one of the brightest young players in the Arsenal youth team, along with Wan-Bissaka. They were the team that beat Manchester City, a traditional youth team, in the FA Youth Cup. This season, Scully has not only broken into the first team, but has become a key player. Arsenal’s style of play is very demanding and complex. Even senior players like Zinchenko and Calafiore often find it difficult to balance. But Scully has proven to be more versatile than his senior counterparts.

Zinchenko is a skilled midfielder but needs to fill in the gaps in defence. Calafiore is no different. He is technically gifted but needs to be a bit more agile. He is not a full-back, and Arsenal are playing as a full-back as needed. But certainly, Calafiore lacks the agility and explosiveness to play at left-back. Scully can play well overlapping. He can control the midfield. He is also comfortable in the attacking-third zone. He is also a promising player, even though he is not at his peak for his age. Scully played as a midfielder at youth level, so there is no doubt about his ball handling and passing skills. So Arsenal have the opportunity to have a full-back who is suited to modern football.