Jack Wilshere has publicly urged Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly to reject a potential move to Manchester United, insisting the 19-year-old defender has the quality to fight for his place at the Emirates. The former Arsenal midfielder's comments come amid reports that United are preparing a bid for the England Under-21 international.
Lewis-Skelly's Rise and Recent Struggles
Lewis-Skelly, a product of Arsenal's Hale End academy, burst onto the scene two years ago, establishing himself as a first-team regular during a stellar debut season. However, last season proved more challenging as Riccardo Calafiori cemented his place as Mikel Arteta's preferred left-back. Despite this, Lewis-Skelly showed resilience towards the end of the campaign, helping Arsenal secure their first Premier League title in 22 years. He also became the second-youngest Englishman to start a Champions League final in May, though Arsenal lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
According to The Independent, Manchester United are 'investigating' the possibility of signing Lewis-Skelly as they look for competition for Luke Shaw. United's interest has been long-standing, but his strong finish to the season has reportedly intensified their pursuit.
Wilshere's Plea: Stay and Fight
Wilshere, who managed Arsenal's Under-18s before leaving the club, has a close relationship with Lewis-Skelly from his academy days. Speaking to Sky Sports, he expressed his hope that the youngster would remain at Arsenal and compete for his place.
'Last year was interesting to watch for Myles because I think he probably never experienced that,' Wilshere said. 'All the way through the academy, him and Ethan Nwaneri were probably always the best players in their age group. The academy have done a really good job of giving him the right challenge at the right time, but then all of a sudden he faced a bit of adversity. I was really happy for Myles with the way he managed it.'
Wilshere praised Lewis-Skelly's character, saying: 'Forget the ability and all of that, the one thing that I love about Myles is his character and personality and he's never let that leave him. When I'd watch on the TV, it would sometimes go to Myles on the bench and he would still cheer every moment. He's a character who wants to feel love and he gives a lot of love as well.'
He added: 'He obviously found his way at the end of the season playing in the Champions League final, in my opinion, in his best position. I'd like to see him stay and fight for it because I believe he's good enough to find his way in that team. I believe he can do that.'
Wilshere's Confidence in Arteta and Arsenal's Future
Wilshere also expressed unwavering confidence in Mikel Arteta's ability to keep Arsenal on an upward trajectory. Having worked closely with Arteta, Wilshere believes the Spaniard's hunger for success will drive the club forward.
'I had no doubt about that, knowing Mikel like I know Mikel and actually being fortunate enough to spend some time there when I was with the Under-18s but also a little bit before when I was training,' Wilshere said. 'To see the demands that he sets and how hungry he is to try and improve the club and get the club back to where he feels they belong, he's done that. He's won the Premier League and I had no doubt. I saw the look in Mikel's eyes during the Champions League final, that really hurt him and I knew that he was going to want to improve again, go again.'
Wilshere sees a bright future for Arsenal, saying: 'There's probably an opportunity for Arsenal to go and do that and win the league next year, try and build on that, and then maybe the Champions League.'
Arsenal's Pre-Season and Upcoming Fixtures
Arsenal have begun their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 victory over MK Dons. They are set to face Real Betis in Dublin, followed by home matches against Borussia Dortmund and Como. Their competitive season kicks off with a Community Shield clash against Manchester City on August 16, and they begin their Premier League title defence five days later at home to newly promoted Coventry City.
Lewis-Skelly's future remains uncertain, but Wilshere's public plea adds weight to the argument that the young defender should stay and fight for his place at the club he supports. With United reportedly circling, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining where Lewis-Skelly's future lies.
