By Martin Graham
less than a year ago, Myles Lewis-Skelly he appeared to be one of Arsenal’s brightest young talents. The teenager took part in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid and was widely seen as a potential long-term option at left-back for the England national football team before the next FIFA World Cup.
The 2024-25 campaign proved to be a breakthrough for the academy graduate. Injuries within the squad opened the door, and he seized the opportunity, becoming a regular presence in the first team. His performances were rewarded with a new five-year contract in the summer.
International recognition soon followed. In March last year, Lewis-Skelly made his England debut at Wembley Stadium and scored in a 2-0 win over Albania, becoming the youngest player to find the net on his first appearance for the national team.
He also started four World Cup qualifiers and featured in four of Thomas Tuchel’s first five England squads. However, reduced involvement at club level meant he was not included in November’s international squad.
Competition and changing priorities
At Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta is focused on ending the club’s long wait for a league title after three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League. With the club chasing its first championship since 2004, there is little room for sentimental decisions when selecting the team.
Arteta has reshaped his squad to cope with the physical demands of the league and to compete consistently at the highest level. Alongside Riccardo Calafiori, signed for £42m in 2024, the club also brought Piero Hincapié on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with an option to buy for around £45m.
Other arrivals such as Viktor Gyökeres, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze reflect the club’s strategy of signing players in their prime who can produce immediate results. Inevitably, this approach has made opportunities harder to come by for younger prospects.
Another academy product, Ethan Nwaneri, was loaned out to Olympique de Marseille after struggling to secure regular minutes. Lewis-Skelly has remained with the squad but faces stiff competition, particularly from Hincapié, who was part of Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga triumph in 2024-25 and their DFB-Pokal success the previous season.
Reduced minutes but continued progress
The Ecuador international’s strength and defensive intensity have been frequently highlighted by Arteta, qualities that closely align with the manager’s tactical demands. These traits, combined with the influence of new assistant Gabriel Heinze, have helped move Hincapié up the pecking order.
Calafiori’s attacking unpredictability also plays a part in Arsenal’s current system, where the full-backs are heavily involved in forward play. As a result, Lewis-Skelly has moved from first choice last season to a third-choice role this year.
Despite this decline in status, his situation is far from negative. He started 26 of his 42 appearances last season as injuries to Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney created opportunities. He has started 12 times in 26 outings this year, albeit just once in the Premier League.
He has still been relied upon in European competition, starting six of Arsenal’s nine Champions League games. Those appearances included notable wins against Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid, where he produced a run of the ball and an assist, as well as playing the full game in a win over Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Future questions before summer
Arteta has insisted that the fluctuation in Lewis-Skelly’s participation has several explanations. Suspensions, the strong form of teammates and tactical considerations have influenced selection decisions throughout the season.
The manager continues to promote young players, with six making their senior debuts during the campaign. However, there is a distinct difference between introducing prospects to first-team football and relying on them in decisive games.
Lewis-Skelly has shown that he can operate effectively as a full-back and move into midfield when Arsenal have possession. However, adjustments to the team’s tactical set-up this season means that these qualities are not as central to the formation as they once were.
Even so, the teenager has already achieved more than most players his age. If Arsenal clinch the league title in May, they will still qualify for a Premier League winner’s medal. With his chances of featuring for England at the World Cup now uncertain, discussions about the next step in his development could become a key issue over the summer.
