The fairytale has stalled for one of Arsenal's brightest young talents. Myles Lewis-Skelly, who burst onto the scene as one of the Premier League's standout breakthrough stories last season, is now facing a difficult spell on the sidelines, with his prospects of making England's World Cup squad this summer rapidly diminishing.
From Whirlwind to Watching On
Lewis-Skelly, the 19-year-old England international, has found regular first-team football hard to come by in the current campaign. While he has made 22 appearances across all competitions, the telling statistic is that 13 of his 14 Premier League outings have been from the bench. His recent 33-minute substitute appearance in the clash against Liverpool on Thursday night highlighted the issue, with the player looking uncharacteristically rusty and lacking the confident swagger that defined his play last term.
The emergence of summer signing Riccardo Calafiori has been a key factor, and when the Italian is unavailable, Mikel Arteta has turned to Piero Hincapie ahead of the teenager. This has left Lewis-Skelly, a midfielder converted into a defender, fighting for scraps and losing the rhythm essential for his development.
A Shared Problem for Arsenal's Prodigies
Lewis-Skelly is not alone in his frustration. Highly-rated playmaker Ethan Nwaneri has also barely had a look-in this season, pointing to a broader challenge for young players under Arteta. The manager has shown a reluctance to fully trust academy graduates at times, demanding they master the defensive side of the game and work tirelessly off the ball.
For Nwaneri, the path to minutes involves pressing more and improving defensively. Arsenal have resisted loan moves for both players this January, believing training with the first-team squad at the highest standard is more beneficial for their long-term future.
Gyokeres Warning and Arteta's Loyalty
The situation for the youngsters holds a warning for the club's record signing, Viktor Gyokeres. The £64m striker has faced criticism for a perceived lack of technical quality compared to his teammates, with concerns that his place is secured more by blind faith than consistent performance.
The article suggests that when Kai Havertz returns from injury, Gyokeres could find himself marginalised, much like the younger players. Arteta's loyalty can be a double-edged sword, and the Swede must improve to avoid being the next talent left out in the cold.
For Myles Lewis-Skelly, the immediate focus is on seizing any opportunity, such as the upcoming FA Cup tie at Portsmouth where Calafiori and Hincapie are set to miss out. He must rediscover the fearless defending and driving runs that earned him an England call-up. However, with the World Cup on the horizon, time is running out for him to force his way back into contention, making this period a critical learning curve in his promising career.
