Mikel Arteta has explained why Myles Lewis-Skelly hasn’t played much this season, adding that the youngster could be used in midfield.
The 2024/25 season was a breakthrough campaign for 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, as he made 39 appearances for Arsenal, made his England senior international debut, and started huge Champions League knockout matches.
Yet six games into 2025/26, Lewis-Skelly has played three times, all substitute appearances for a total of 66 minutes on the pitch.
It certainly seems as though the youngster has lost his starting spot to Riccardo Calafiori, and summer signing Piero Hincapie could start putting the pressure on as well – when he’s back from injury.
But it’s not necessarily easy to see why Lewis-Skelly has lost his place. He didn’t have a run of bad performances or an injury, and Mikel Arteta has explained that the player didn’t really do anything wrong at all.
“You can be at a really good level but somebody can be at a different level, or it’s just that I have the perception at the moment that it’s better to play or start somebody else in the team,” Arteta said.
“It doesn’t mean Myles has done something wrong at all, completely the opposite. So when he has the chance, he has to try to show the level that he’s at, elevate it, and make the decision even harder.”
One way back into the team might be for Lewis-Skelly to change positions, as he did break through as a midfielder with the academy. Arteta confirmed that midfield minutes are also an option this season.
“Yes, [it’s a fluid situation],” Arteta said. “Especially because if you look at the amount of time that Myles defends and attacks in certain spaces, he’s much more a midfielder than a full-back.
“But there are moments that he needs to be in that position. He can absolutely do it. He’s shown it. He’s done it at the highest level in the Champions League so there’s no question about that.”
In the short term, with Hincapie injured and Calafiori probably in need of a rest, Lewis-Skelly should get a chance to build up his minutes with a start against Port Vale at left-back on Wednesday night.