“I have decided to changed his position and I believe it’s the best for him”: Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta unveiled new position for Lewis-Skelly

Six games into the new campaign, Myles Lewis-Skelly is yet to start a match for Arsenal.

Last season, Myles Lewis-Skelly emerged as one of Arsenal’s strongest performers at left-back, despite being just 18 years old.

Lewis-Skelly was given the opportunity to make the jump from the Hale End academy to the first team owing to injuries, and it was a chance he took with both hands.

All in all, the young England international played 42 games across the campaign, including 10 matches in the Champions League.

Lewis-Skelly starred against Real Madrid for example – his performance earned rave reviews from the Spanish press.

But fast forward a few months, and Lewis-Skelly is now being benched by Riccardo Calafiori.

Mikel Arteta explains why Riccardo Calafiori is playing ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly
That being said, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has now spoken about Lewis-Skelly’s quest for minutes this season.

Discussing the youngster’s situation at his press conference before facing Port Vale in the EFL Cup, Arteta confirmed that Lewis-Skelly was simply missing out owing to Calafiori’s form.

Arteta said: “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.

“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.”

Lewis-Skelly could still have a future as a midfielder for Arsenal

Arteta was then asked if it was a fluid situation in terms of the positions in which Lewis-Skelly can play, and interestingly, the Arsenal boss suggested that he still sees the 18-year-old as a midfielder primarily.

He continued: “Yes, fluid. 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.”

Last season, Lewis-Skelly didn’t start a match as a midfielder for Arsenal despite Arteta’s words – he was solely used as a left-back from the start.

And although his inverted role often makes him appear as one of the midfield three, his position also entails a lot of one-vs-one defending out wide.

Lewis-Skelly thanked Arteta for changing his life recently – the youngster doesn’t personally seem concerned about where he’s playing, just as long as he’s on the pitch.

But six games into the next season, it has been odd to see Lewis-Skelly take a step back in his minutes.