Mikel Arteta has fired a warning to Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly following his recently bookings. The defender was brought off in the first half against PSV earlier this week after the defender made a late challenge despite already being booked.
The teenager has had his fair share of bookings already in his career, and Arteta has now spoken with the left-back about how he must keep a lid on his cards, or risks further run-ins with referees.
Speaking about Lewis-Skelly’s early substitution against PSV, Arteta explained: “I think it was quite clear that we had a liability there, with the yellow card and the next action, so it wasn't a moment to take any risk.
“It’s a lesson to learn for him, for sure. We will support and help him, but the line is really thin in sport, and he needs to understand that. He’ll learn quickly because he's very intelligent, he's extremely demanding of himself.”
Arteta went on to reveal that he waited over 48 hours before speaking with Lewis-Skelly to talk him through his decision, saying: " It was only today that I did that. When the dust has settled and we can talk openly.
“What can we learn from that situation? How can we expose the team? What are the things that we have to try to avoid without losing his essence as a player?
“That’s what we have to do – understand where that line is - because he is a superb player, he has attitude, he has courage, what he transmits to the team. Certainly we have to maintain that.
Arteta went on to speak about how he hopes Lewis-Skelly can understand the risk involved in picking up bookings and how detrimental it can be to his side. He concluded: "It’s just about understanding the risks and rewards - what part of the pitch you are in and when you have to bet certain things that can give you big rewards and, sometimes guys, stay away from that bet because it is not good for us.
“You have to apply defensive principles that are very clear to most of the time have the best possibility to win the ball and don't get exposed. If you don't do that, at that level, big problem.”