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Myles Lewis-Skelly’s season at Arsenal has not gone to plan.
When the teenager signed his new contract in the summer after a successful breakthrough campaign in 2024/25, he would’ve thought he was the club’s first-choice left-back.
However, Lewis-Skelly has dropped out of the side and has barely played this season. Mikel Arteta has revealed that it is because of the performances of others in his position.
What would your immediate reaction be if Arsenal sold Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly?
Credit: Getty Images/ Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC Mikel Arteta says Myles Lewis-Skelly hasn’t played much because of Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie’s performances
Myles Lewis-Skelly deserved to start this season as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back after his brilliant performances last term.
However, Arteta chose Riccardo Calafiori in that role in the first few months of the campaign, and the Italian was outstanding in that role.
Then, when Calafiori got injured, many people felt that Lewis-Skelly would finally get an opportunity, but the Arsenal manager chose Piero Hincapie to start there.
That, again, proved to be the right decision as the Bayer Leverkusen loanee has been absolutely incredible since the turn of the year.
Arteta was asked about Lewis-Skelly ahead of the FA Cup clash against Mansfield Town, and the Arsenal boss claimed that the performances of the other two players are the reason why the teenager hasn’t played much.
He said, as per Football London: “Yes (he will have chances), and when he has those opportunities, he has to grab them. His attitude has been excellent.
“He’s not playing more because there are other players that are playing as well. They’ve been phenomenal. That’s football, but we’ll try to give him the minutes that he deserves.”
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesMyles Lewis-Skelly needs to be given opportunities in Arsenal’s midfield
Lewis-Skelly’s hopes of getting any minutes at left-back look extremely slim.
Hincapie has been outstanding in that role lately, and Calafiori is the one Arteta will turn to if the Ecuadorian cannot play.
That is why Arteta should start giving Lewis-Skelly opportunities in midfield, where Mikel Merino is ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Agree or disagree: Myles Lewis-Skelly should get chances in midfield after Mikel Merino’s injury
Credit: Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC
The teenager will not be a regular starter there either, but his chances of game time in the middle of the park are far greater than at left-back at this moment in time.
The game against Mansfield Town would’ve been a great opportunity, but unfortunately, Lewis-Skelly is suspended and will miss the FA Cup clash.
It now remains to be seen when he will get a chance to play again.
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