Ian Wright Advocates for Myles Lewis-Skelly's Return to Arsenal's Starting Lineup
Arsenal icon Ian Wright has publicly urged manager Mikel Arteta to give Myles Lewis-Skelly more playing time, highlighting the young defender's potential to solve a significant tactical issue for the team. This comes after Lewis-Skelly was notably absent from the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, where Arsenal suffered a defeat.
The Forgotten Talent at Arsenal
Following a breakout season last year, where he impressed for both Arsenal and his national team, 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly has seen limited action this campaign. He has started only one Premier League match and has not appeared in the league since early January. With Riccardo Calafiori often unavailable, Arteta has frequently opted for Piero Hincapie at left-back, relegating Lewis-Skelly to third-choice in a position where he excelled previously.
Wright expressed his disappointment, noting that Lewis-Skelly was again overlooked in the recent Wembley final, failing to make an appearance as Nico O'Reilly secured victory for Manchester City. Recalling the teenager's standout performances in last season's Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, Wright emphasized his ability to invert and contribute to build-up play from the back.
Wright's Analysis on The Overlap
In an interview with The Overlap, Wright detailed his thoughts: 'I've mentioned Myles Lewis-Skelly when he played against Real Madrid last time; he had an unbelievable game. Then he's kind of been dropped back out of it, and I'm thinking in that game on Sunday, a left-back who can invert is what we need—someone comfortable on the ball. That's the game he should be playing in, because then he's somebody who can get on the ball and at least we can link.'
When questioned by Gary Neville about Lewis-Skelly's current third-choice status, Wright added: 'There's no way, Myles Lewis-Skelly, the way he started his career, he hasn't got the capability to go on and do... I'm not saying he's gonna do exactly what O'Reilly's done, but the confidence it gives him in playing is going to be a lot probably more confident than he is right now. He can't get into the team at the moment, whether it's behind Hincapie or if it's behind Calafiori. This guy is a footballer. We needed a footballer on Sunday, and those are the things that I'm sitting there watching us do, watching us do nothing.'
Wright further argued that introducing Lewis-Skelly could energize the team and fans: 'I'm thinking to myself, if the Arsenal fans saw someone like him come on and do a couple of things, everybody, it gets us going, it gets people going again. That's a disappointment for me.'
Future Prospects and Contract Situation
Despite signing a new long-term contract with Arsenal last year, Lewis-Skelly has been linked with a potential move to Manchester United as a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw. This speculation adds urgency to the discussion about his role at Arsenal, as Wright's comments underscore the need for Arteta to utilize his talents more effectively in the upcoming season run-in.
As Arsenal navigates the remainder of the season, the debate over Lewis-Skelly's inclusion highlights broader concerns about squad depth and tactical flexibility. Wright's advocacy serves as a reminder of the young player's potential impact, urging Arteta to reconsider his selection strategy to address the team's left-back challenges.
