Myles Lewis-Skelly is at risk of being dropped to the Arsenal bench (Image: Getty)
Myles Lewis-Skelly is riding the wave of his first senior call-up. But could bring him crashing back down to earth after the international break, with the boss getting two weeks to ponder an unenviable selection decision.
Lewis-Skelly has transitioned from a promising academy prospect to a fully-fledged first-team player this season. The 18-year-old has made 14 appearances in the , six more in the , and another six in domestic cup competitions as he reaps the rewards for his impressive performances. But whether he can continue on his current trajectory, or whether Arteta will be forced to knock him down a peg, is a call which must be confronted in the coming weeks.
Because while Lewis-Skelly is away on England duty, having got the call from new manager Thomas Tuchel, fellow star Ben White will be working his way back to full sharpness at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
White was snubbed by Tuchel despite making himself available for international selection for the first time since the 2022 World Cup. In many ways, that will help the 27-year-old’s prospects of getting back into the fold at club level, having only recovered from knee surgery last month.
Since White’s return, Arteta has handed him three substitute appearances and a start in the dead rubber against PSV Eindhoven last week. But his first-team responsibilities could ramp up after the international break.
Ben White was left out of the latest England squad (Image: Getty)
Despite Lewis-Skelly’s rapid rise, there is a strong argument that White and Jurrien Timber are still ‘s two best full-backs. In the six games that duo have started together this campaign, kept four clean sheets and conceded only two goals.
Lewis-Skelly, for all of his talent, has been prone to the odd mistake. And Arteta cannot afford to take chances in a crucial run of games after the international break, in which the fate of their unlikely Premier League title push will be decided, and a two-legged Champions League clash with Real Madrid will be contested.
The option is there to shift Timber from right to left-back, put White in on his favoured side and drop Lewis-Skelly to the bench. But it would inevitably raise eyebrows given Lewis-Skelly’s popularity with fans, and the extent to which he has impressed this campaign.
There is plenty for Arteta to ponder, therefore, ahead of a two-month period which will define ‘s 2024/25 season.