Myles Lewis-Skelly has had a remarkable year at Arsenal.
The teenager was still in the club’s academy this time last year, but he was called up to the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, where he impressed massively.
Lewis-Skelly was still not expected to play a big role in the senior setup, but injuries to Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney opened the door for him.
Mikel Arteta chose to deploy Lewis-Skelly at left-back even though he is naturally a central midfielder, and that changed the youngster’s life.
Myles Lewis-Skelly reveals what he told Mikel Arteta after his breakthrough season at Arsenal
Myles Lewis-Skelly has become a fan favourite at Arsenal.
The supporters always love to see academy graduates make it into the first team, but there has been a very special connection with Lewis-Skelly that is very rare.
The youngster was absolutely outstanding for Arsenal last season, and he is now the undisputed first-choice left-back ahead of more experienced stars.
Lewis-Skelly feels Arteta’s tactical decision to use him at left back, even though it’s not his natural position, led to him becoming the star he is today.
That, the youngster says, changed his life.
“I went to the boss’ office and sat down,” Lewis-Skelly said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“I said, ‘Boss, first things first: I’m grateful for you putting trust in me this season. If I wasn’t at left-back, I wouldn’t go on the trajectory or the journey that I am on now.
“I told him I’m grateful for him, that he changed my life, and helped change my family’s life. He seemed happy with what I had to say.”
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What Mikel Arteta said about changing Myles Lewis-Skelly’s position
Playing as a left-back at Arsenal is not easy at all.
Since Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival, the Gunners have had their left full-backs invert, and that has helped them a lot on the pitch.
Lewis-Skelly always thought he would play as a midfielder, but Arteta made up his mind that the youngster was going to be a left-back after watching him for the very first time.
Mikel Arteta shakes hands with Myles Lewis-Skelly after substituting him during an Arsenal game
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Arteta said in January this year, as per Arsenal Insider: “The moment I saw him, the only words I could think is ‘change his position’, if he wants to have a chance here.
“I spoke to him and I said: ‘This is where you’re going to have (opportunities)’, because I think his qualities fit a lot with the way we play, and it is also because we had necessities in that position.
“So, we started to work on that. He bought into it straight away with the personality that he has, that is very obvious. And now, he’s doing it.”