Arsenal: What’s going on with Miles Lewis Skelly?

Despite a decline in playing time after finding himself at the deep end of the title race aged just 18 last year, it’s not all negative for Lewis-Skelly.

He started 26 of 42 matches last season as Calafiore, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney struggled with injury problems.

That may have led many, including Lewis Skelly, to expect more time on the pitch this season. However, while he has made 12 starts in 26 appearances, only one start has come in the Premier League.

Talk of him being a starting left-back in England came ahead of schedule for Lewis Skelly’s career plan, and he will still have played enough to pick up a Premier League medal if Arsenal can make the move to become champions in May.

He has started six of Arsenal’s nine Champions League matches, which included impressive victories over Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid – during which he produced an assist and an assist – and also played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s win over Inter Milan at the San Siro.

“Every season is different,” Arteta said when asked about Lewis Skelly’s playing time this season.

“He had very good moments this season. He had other moments where he didn’t play much.

“Obviously a few days ago, in the FA Cup, he was suspended and couldn’t play.

“So, there are different reasons. Sometimes, too, the good level of your teammates. There are a lot of factors that contribute to that. But he is in good shape.”

Arteta is not opposed to giving young players a chance, with six youngsters making their debuts this season, but there is a difference between getting a taste of first-team football and playing in crucial matches.

Lewis-Skelly excelled when playing as a full-back and switched into midfield with the ball, but with Arsenal’s full-back requirements adjusted this season, those attributes are clearly no longer needed in build-up play.

Nwaniri’s loan will be remembered, and the fact that Lewis Skelly will be a net profit for Arsenal on the balance sheet is also another interesting factor when discussing his future.

There aren’t many 19-year-olds who have achieved what Lewis Skelly has.

But with World Cup selection increasingly likely, there could be discussions about his immediate career plan in the summer.