Arsenal's promising young defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has declared his intention to battle for more playing opportunities at the Emirates Stadium after a lack of minutes cost him his place in the England senior squad.
International Disappointment
The 19-year-old left-back received a significant blow when England manager Thomas Tuchel opted to select Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly instead for the November internationals against Serbia and Albania. This omission represents a major setback for Lewis-Skelly's hopes of securing a spot in the squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Tuchel was unequivocal about his reasoning, stating in a press conference on Friday that Lewis-Skelly simply needs more starts and minutes to be considered. The England boss confirmed that O'Reilly's more frequent appearances for his club placed him ahead for this particular camp.
Club Competition Intensifies
Lewis-Skelly's situation at Arsenal has changed dramatically since his breakthrough 2024/25 campaign. Last season, the academy graduate made an impressive 39 appearances across all competitions for Mikel Arteta's side, form that earned him six England caps since his debut in March.
However, this season has presented new challenges. The arrival and subsequent form of Riccardo Calafiori has limited Lewis-Skelly's opportunities. Calafiori has started all 11 Premier League games as the undisputed first-choice left-back. Lewis-Skelly has been restricted to seven substitute appearances in the league, totalling just 92 minutes, along with two starts in the Carabao Cup and Champions League.
The competition has become even fiercer with summer signing Piero Hincapie also vying for the left-back position.
Positive Mindset Amidst Challenge
Despite the setback, Lewis-Skelly maintains a positive and determined attitude. In comments made last month, the young defender acknowledged his current situation while embracing the competitive environment.
"I'm enjoying it," he said. "It's a different experience for me, not playing as much at the moment, but I'm enjoying being part of the team. It's important to compete for places and I'm a competitive person, so I'm never going to back down. I enjoy the challenge."
He added that being with the Arsenal squad remains "a joy" despite the increased competition for places, recognising that higher standards this season have made securing game time more difficult.
The situation has created a divergence of opinion within the England setup. While Tuchel considers Lewis-Skelly a senior player and doesn't want him to drop down to the under-21s, Lee Carsley, the U21 manager, indicated he would "love to have Myles with us" and that the situation would be assessed in March.
According to reports from The Athletic, Tuchel personally called Lewis-Skelly before the squad announcement, and their conversation was positive, suggesting the door remains open for a future recall should his club situation improve.
