Mikel Arteta made a bold selection decision by including teenage midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arsenal's starting line-up for the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Lewis-Skelly Gets the Nod
The 18-year-old English prospect was chosen ahead of Martin Zubimendi to partner Declan Rice in the centre of the park. Lewis-Skelly impressed during Arsenal's 3-0 Premier League victory over Fulham on Saturday, which convinced Arteta to hand him a starting role in such a high-stakes European encounter.
This is a particularly audacious call from the Arsenal manager, given that Lewis-Skelly has struggled for consistent game time throughout the season. In contrast, Zubimendi has been a mainstay in midfield during his debut campaign at the Emirates and brings far more experience to the table.
Other Key Selection Decisions
Arteta also opted to start Bukayo Saka, who shone in the win against Fulham, while Viktor Gyokeres was entrusted with leading the attack after scoring twice at the weekend. The tie is delicately poised at 1-1 following last week's first leg in Madrid.
Notably, club captain Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz were both named on the substitutes' bench, indicating Arteta's faith in his chosen XI to get the job done.
The full team news and live updates can be followed in our dedicated match blog.
