Myles Lewis-Skelly could be granted his dream role soon for Arsenal despite noise around his future
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly remains in a fragile situation with rumours circulating regarding his future. From the established starting left-back to third choice in less than a year, the England international has endured a challenging season.
The arrival of Piero Hincapie and the return to form and fitness for Riccardo Calafiori has relegated Lewis-Skelly down the pecking order. It has been a blow to the player who had hopes of making the squad for the World Cup, which now looks improbable.
Yet he has been given the opportunity to play for the England under-21s and started at left-back against Andorra in a 1-1 draw. He is likely to be further involved in Tuesday night’s clash with Moldova as the Under-21 European Championship Qualifiers continue.
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Still starting at left-back many have called for the 19-year-old to be given an opportunity in central midfield. It came close to happening in the home game against Brighton but when Calafiori suffered a problem in the warm-up, Lewis-Skelly was moved from a presumed midfield role to left-back with Bukayo Saka then coming from the bench into the midfield.
However, with the number of injury concerns suffered before and during the international break, it could be that Lewis-Skelly finally starts in the middle. Arsenal travel to Southampton on Saturday evening for the quarter-finals of the competition.
A list of ten players pulled out of duty with their national teams due to a variety of fitness-related problems of varying severity. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard were all impacted.
While some could yet make the Sporting CP clash next week, Southampton is looking unlikely, although it is thought Timber is targeting a return. Martin Odegaard is another who has been out for a few weeks but could return at the weekend.
However, with Zubimendi, Rice, Eze and the longer-term absentee Mikel Merino all missing, it could be Lewis-Skelly comes in. Equally, Arteta could use a midfield three of Christian Norgaard, Kai Havertz and Odegaard, should he so choose, with all three thought to be available for the match – barring any late issues this week.
However, it might prove better to give the likes of Havertz a rest, who has played twice for Germany over the break, and move Lewis-Skelly into the midfield. Arteta has the choice and has shown some willingness to try it and the cup fixture again allows that reality to be trialled.
