Should Myles Lewis-Skelly agitate for a move away from Arsenal to keep his World Cup hopes alive?
It is a question the young Gunner may well be asking himself, given the tricky situation he currently finds himself in.
In 2024-25, Lewis-Skelly was arguably England’s most in-form left-back. The Hale End graduate’s high footballing intelligence, composure under pressure, and physical attributes, honed through his midfield background, breathed life into the inverted full-back role.
Senior Call-Up
Just months into his breakout season at Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly earned his first senior England call-up last March. He did not take long to settle. Since making his debut, he has already racked up five appearances for the Three Lions, an impressive feat for a 19-year-old who only broke into the national setup last spring.
Having played a key role for Arsenal and impressed with England, Lewis-Skelly was slowly establishing himself as Thomas Tuchel’s default left-back. But while he was growing into the role, he is now losing his place in the Arsenal line-up to Riccardo Calafiori, putting his national team prospects at risk.
With the Italian thriving at left-back and making the position his own, Lewis-Skelly is slipping into squad-player territory.
World Cup Hopes in Jeopardy
England’s talent pool is deep. Out of nowhere, Tottenham’s Djed Spence is enjoying a breakout season, playing regularly and impressing. He has emerged as a reliable left-back option for Tuchel, who rates him highly.
Spence is gunning for the role, and then there is the veteran Luke Shaw, who has shaken off his injury woes. If the United defender can stay fit, he will be a strong contender for the World Cup squad, which is a threat to Lewis-Skelly’s ambitions.
The message is clear: if Lewis-Skelly wants to keep his World Cup hopes alive, he needs to play more and earn his spot in the team. As talented as he is, warming the bench will only see him slide down the pecking order.
While it is too early to make firm predictions, a temporary exit from Arsenal in January could be a sensible move, one his entourage may already be considering.
Tuchel’s Warning
Tuchel has already issued a subtle warning about Lewis-Skelly’s lack of game time.
“It maybe becomes a problem for him, yes. To just be a good citizen in camp will not be enough over the course of a year.
“He was a very good player in camp, a very good team-mate in camp. But to just be a good team-mate can maybe not be enough to stay the whole year with us.”
Tricky Situation
With Calafiori emerging as a key figure in Arsenal’s tactical setup, the challenge for Lewis-Skelly is clear: if he stays, he must prove he is worthy of a key role. He needs to play more. His World Cup hopes depend on that.
What do you think? Should Lewis-Skelly go out on loan in January?
Daniel O
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Is Hincapie also in his way? He also plays left back as well as LCB. I like MLS but he still needs to develop, that said, we have so many games ahead of us he is bound to get minutes. I would say he should stay.
Calafiori and Hincapie currently play ahead of Lewis-Skelly
So, the boy had better look move to another club on loan if he wants to play in World Cup, unless Calafiori gets injured before the next transfer window opens
some loan clubs don’t give such player much chance. so maybe it is time to return him to mid
Arsenal could enforce a minimum-playing-time clause on the loan contract, since Lewis-Skelly is a young international English footballer
There are more competitors for him in midfield, such as Odegaard, Eze, Nwaneri, Rice, Merino, Zubimendi and Norgaard
Well, at a time like this last season, MLS was behind Calafiori,Zinchenko,Tierney and possibly Timber. We all know how that went. So many things can change.
Imagine a scenario where we lose Gabriel like it happened last season. Hincapie then starts in his place. All of a sudden we’re left with one LB,Calafiori, whose availability is not guaranteed given his injury record. I don’t think the club would sanction that move.
Besides, there’s no guarantee he’d be a starter at his new club. At least at Arsenal, he’s guaranteed to play in FA & Carabao Cups.
Yes, that scenario could happen because of Calafiori’s injury history
It would be better for Arsenal if Lewis-Skelly stays, but I don’t think he’s willing to do so after Tuchel’s comment about his playing time
I don’t think he’s guaranteed a WC spot even if he goes out to Ipswich or whatever and performs well, but I doubt anyone would begrudge him agitating for a loan move, with that in mind.
It’s not only his decision though, to Onyango’s point. We are going to need the cover for all the games ahead. I can’t see the club allowing it.
now that sounds like a dilemma. I still doubt loan time will help unless it is lower league. he has potential to be come a good player
How many players have returned from a loan spell after playing for Arsenal and actually come back better, with significant game time under their belt and more valuable??
MA said he was happy to have a full squad that he can utilize fully, seems he needs to start doing that now especially with our current LB being so injury prone. He should be rotated in games we are winning or against easier opposition.
I agree. Apart from Saliba, I can’t think of anybody else recently. It seems a way of getting an underperforming player off the books for a while rather than expecting meaningful development
right, the likes of Lokonga and Viera did not improve with loan time
Tuchel is pushing players to put the national team first …. he made it clear last season when appointed that players will be selected and used, regardless of if they are a key player at club level .
His comments about saka – stating he was only selected because madueke was injured and even after playing well against Wales he still had some negative comments.
This is what tuchel does… eventually he self implodes .
Myles is in his second season of football , arteta is handling him very well , he is taking the pressure off him , letting him enjoy his football when he does start and ultimately preventing him from potential burn out , wear and tear.
If England do progress far into the tournament- myles will have a short summer break and we have seen how last season that caught up with saka. People will say its up to arteta to manage that….but after the euros , saka had a few weeks off and then the season started, he was selected by carsely- who knew full well most of them players had minimum time off. Even using him in a top heavy attacking line up against lower quality. In one of the games he was injured and then during the game heavy festive season finally suffered a long term injury .
Myles doesn’t need to go out on loan, with the amount of injuries we are suffering and so many games to be played, he is fine at arsenal
At this point last season,Myles had only made four appearances for the Arsenal, starting only once. He wasn’t a regular until almost mid-season,which shows just how quickly things can change in football.
Besides, Myles has only recently turned 19. Many footballers his age will k1ll just to sit on the bench of a title contender. Most of his age mates,including Nwaneri,are still representing the youth teams,having never played for the senior teams.
I don’t think missing out on the World Cup would be the end of the world at his age. Realistically, he can still participate in three more world cups after the 2026 one if he fulfills his potential. He’ll only be 31 when the 2038 World Cup starts!!! For context, Harry Kane is 32 already. Even the 2042 WC wouldn’t be too far-fetched for him (35 years).Lots of successful years hopefully still ahead of him.
Who cares about the WC? It is no longer the pinnacle of football, IMHO.
We need him for our long and testing season. I prefer him over Califiori anyway.
In recent memory, I can only remember Saliba arriving from a loan and getting into the first 11, and we will never know if he would not have been able to that if he had arrived a season earlier.
No way send out on loan, we need as many players as possible this season with so many players already injured and I know this won’t go down too well but I couldn’t give a monkeys toss about the world cup at the moment as it’s the Premier league and champions league that I want.
The greif some of us said when we pointed out he hadn’t been good enough to be our first choice left back
I was told he was like Ashley Cole
I remember you getting lots of stick for that comment.
Anyway, I just think there’s no cause for alarm. Competition is what we all wanted. And given his recent new contract (it’s said he’s one of the best paid teenagers in the world), he should be judged same as other footballers – based on merit only. If Calafiori keeps performing better, then Lewis Skelly should sit on the bench
Just stop being negative @Dan, the reason He’s not starting has nothing to do with him being not good enough. Stop making up things to suit your narrative, just accept that Calafiori is ahead at the moment. Everyone, the pundits, the English coaching team including Arteta saw He was good enough, It was even confirmed that Madrid wanted him. Of course he’s not perfect if that’s what you’re looking for, He’s 18 for good sake what do you expect.
Yes Calafiori is ahead of him
Hence hea currently not good enough to be our first choice left back
Your saying the same thing
Not the same, more like having two options with both good enough to start, that’s why Arsenal has the best squad in EPL. For example White and Timber, both good enough to start. MLS is getting minutes to show that he deserves to be playing.
Bet Calafiori was not good enough as he was there when MLS breakthrough. Bet you’d come up with counter arguments, it’s not worth it. Never knew a player being ahead of another in a squad of 22 means others not good enough.
Didn’t say he wasn’t good enough
Said he wasn’t good enough to win a title with as our first choice lb
And yes if every league game one player always starts instead of another , he’s ahead of him
Daniel Smith,
Just to put my view for what its worth. Said player may or may not be good enough depending on said fans view point.
But that said, just say that all 11 positions have 2 players vying for each of the said positions. There can only be 1 played there at any given time, and that doesn’t mean that the player that missies out is not good enough. It just means that the manager thinks that the current first choice is the better one currently.
Because if what your saying regarding Skelly not being good enough is true. What does that say about our 2 right backs. Timber is the current holder for obvious reasons, but does that make Ben White not good enough.
Of course it doesn’t, you can only pick one. For me its a case of either, or.
Whether you agree or disagree, I wait to see. 👍
With everything being discussed its not being good enough you highlighted? Which has been proved false by 2 competent managers who keeps selecting him in there squad. I say your opinion is not being good enough if you still cannot open your brain and see that MLS is good for his age, good enough to be in the arsenal team and play for the Great 3lions.
This comment is agitating for MLS to complain. There are numerous cup competitions the player will participate in. Why should Tomas Tuchel set up the Arsenal team for Arteta, or decide when to play MLS?
Suggesting the player go on loan is just as senseless as asking Guardiola to put the Brazillian Striker on transfer because Halaand is his 1st choice in the league. Its preposterous.
Why would Arteta loan him, He has 8 defenders which makes it 2 for each position. Letting MLS go would leave us short, besides Arteta has already stated to the player at Arsenal this season that there will be rotation at times and everyone is going to get minutes.
MLS is not starting simply because Calafiori has been excellent, nothing more. No need to jump at conclusions, the situation could change any moment.
I’m looking at the England u21 team starting tonight and nine of those eleven players are actually older than Myles. And they are exciting talents in their own right- Jamie Gittens,Rico Lewis, Archie Gray, Tyrique George, Norton-Cuffy, Tyler Dibbling and others. All older than MLS and can’t get in the senior team. Goes to show Myles is further ahead in his development curve and there should be no pressure on him.
As John63 points out, ” who cares about the World Cup”. It’s a Mickey Mouse circus run by one of the world’s most corrupt organisations and about to become another grand standing opportunity for the orange clown. Skelley has done nothing wrong, except that he can’t offer the attacking thrust Arsenal currently needs to create more opportunities from the left side. He simply needs to be patient and I’m sure he’ll receive more game time either for his defensive abilities at left back or in his best position as a rough and tumble, ball winning midfielder.
Do you know how many people watch the World Cup?
Amazing number. A gold mine for the merchandisers. It’s your choice. Take it or leave it. I’ll probably watch the semis and final myself. It will be hard to resist, but so many dud games to reach that stage including these interminable international breaks. Who can resist Italy vs San Marino, or definitely miss the old sixteen team formula.
So when you say who cares ?
The world cup is a money making diversion to real football, which is played professionally at top level or on bumby pitches by people who live for the game. The sideshow is there for FIFA to line their pockets. It’s your choice how much of your life you want to invest in it. Regarding, Skelly, he should be focusing on his long term career and not do anything as silly as going out on loan where he could seriously end up in the footballing wilderness, just so as to improve his chances of being in the U.S., with the lads. Between now and the end of the 26 season he can prove to both his boss and the English manager that he is definitely not a one season wonder.
I was simply answering your question of who cares about the World Cup
Answer …..n
Total reach of Final between France v Argentina was the highest ever with 1.42 billion viewers. Average global live audience of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was 175 million viewers.
So quite a few
Glad your excited in any case. Enjoy!.
Like the billion of others. ……of course
Normally I would call for a complex loaned agreement for Lewis Skelly, somthing like getting in the loaned club to start him in every game once he’s fit .
But with the gaffer showing such dramatic improvements in his man management craft, Lewis Skelly has to stay , surely he’ll be better off under the tactical genius.
In my opinion, MLS is showing the same development traits as Ashley Cole was during his own development.
To send him out on loan would be a retrograde step in my opinion, both for the player and the club.
What would happen if Califiori once again succumbs to injury, while we have no idea how Hincapie will adapt to the PL.
Let’s keep this excellent squad of players together for the trials ahead…. we’ve been caught out so many times by injuries!!
Just think he makes too many errors
Be better in midfield
Too many mistakes ?
Yeah
Really ? Care to name them ?
What Lewis Skelly
I wore articles about it at the time correctly predicting he would need to be dropped if we want to win a title
When you think he didn’t make his league debut since December your be amazed how many errors / times he’s out of place and targeted
Any chance of answering my question with what mistakes in what games ?
No mate as I wrote an article about it last Feb and you commented on it so I l know you have read it lol.
So if you wrote an article surely you can recall the games and the mistakes ?
Of course I can but your not going to agree so it’s a really long winded way for you to make a point you can just make now lol
Just as I thought Still. You can answer my question, but won’t. Worried that you will be corrected ?
Corrected ?
It’s an opinion lol
I just know certain fans are positive no matter what so what’s the point
Corrected?
It’s an opinion
There is zero right or wrong
When someone is corrected it’s because they got something wrong. Iirc, you blamed a goal that Man Utd scored at the Emirates on MLS, when in fact it was a mistake by Gabriel..
I would say both were wrong for that goal
He charges up to try and win an header and misses it completely leaving himself out of position
Remember as well we are talking a. First league start in December
Fact I can think of a few in such a short amount of time is bad.
Manager obviously agrees
MLS was a few yards away and was right to try to win the header. Gabriel should have headed the ball out for a throw in. Then our defence could’ve regrouped.
Disagree if he stays where he is he’s not out of position
He puts himself out of position to miss a header
There’s nothing good about that
Hard to see how you can’t see that as a mistake
Our left back has run up the pitch and missed the ball leaving his whole side exposed
Do you want another example of a mistake
As I posted, he was a few yards away and his job was to go for the header. Unfortunately he didn’t win the header. What was he supposed to do, stand still in the Utd half and see what happens ?. Gabriel was also in the Utd half when he failed to head to ball out of play
Mate I would go and watch again
There’s no need to commit
Yes if you charge up that high up the pitch , that’s a mistake ?
What’s he meant to do ?
Dont commit
If you make the choice to cross your halfway line and try and win the ball and miss , that’s a mistake
Actually it’s terrible.defneding in truth
Still, I’ve watched it a few times over the last couple of days. The team were playing a high press and that’s why he was so far forward. He didn’t charge forward, he was a few yards away, to the right, of the Utd player.
I suggest you go and rewatch it and look where our players were.
But have people watched MSL play in midfield, to actually state that they would prefer him there? Please don’t tell me he was a midfielder in the academy. From my understanding is that when a pathway was created for him to transition from the u21s to the first team, Arteta requested for him to be trained at LB in some matches.
I think because his strengths are when future forward with ball close to feet and moving in tight spaces
I find at left back he’s too high up the pitch
Then he should be coached to not go too high up the pitch shouldn’t he, if that’s the case?
Of course, I can’t answer that
Maybe he can’t tatically understand the role ?
I just called it at the time and thank God our boss agrees
Let’s see how he plays tonight and see if Tuchel can coach him.
Hope so
England should qualify tonight
Just hope come World Cup Tuchel knows his best squad
Too long a couple of weeks without EPL. I followed with club interest the 2 Sweden matches. I’m beginning to find answers to my questions regarding Gyokeres. The 2 best England refs are assigned to officiate the Pool and Arsenal matches. Taylor for Arsenal and Oliver for Pool. Anthony Taylor said this week he sometimes think of quitting reffing due to the abuses of fans. So basically he’s requesting respect whatever he does v Fulham. He had issues with Arsene Wenger.
Whether Skelly plays or not as a starter it doesn’t matter. He’ll surely go to WC 26 for England has no plenty of options in the left full back position. So why flee just face the competition from Calafiori and Hincapie who are more experienced than Skelly. Learn from them at Sobha.
I agree that MLS should stay. Going out on loan will not make him better, and there’s no guarantee he gets in the England WC squad either way. Tuchel actually has several options for LB depending on who is fit. In today’s squad he had Nico O’Reilly as reserve, but he could equally take and deploy any of Lewis Hall, Tyrick Mitchell, Tino Livramento, or even Ben Chilwell, among others. So if he doesn’t play much then he’ll possibly miss out, but we know Tuchel likes him.
What’s wrong with Skelley starting as a midfielder during the minor mid week games. He may not have Rice’s energy and ability to read a game, nor Zubamendi and Odegaard’s touches however even at this stage he is a better player defensively and with his passing range than Elneny or Maitland Niles both of whom were presented with years of opportunities to play in the middle.
The World Cup is by far the biggest football competition Joe.s