Arsenal head into the Leeds clash on the back of three points at Old Trafford, but Mikel Arteta now faces a headache that few managers would envy.
Calafiori's winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford won't be the most difficult goal he will ever score in his career. However, it did highlight that his presence in the box at set-pieces is a real advantage that Arsenal do not have when Lewis-Skelly is in the side.
The case for Lewis-Skelly's inclusion is more about style. The youngster is a more effective dribbler than Calafiori and a more accurate crosser of the ball. Both players like to get forward but Lewis-Skelly is just a bit easier on the eye.
The question isn’t about the system, the shape, or even the midfield rotations. It’s about which young blood to trust when Arsenal return to the Emirates: Riccardo Calafiori or Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Riccardo Calafiori
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Calafiori is a player bought with European and domestic success in mind
Calafiori arrived from Bologna with a reputation for versatility, strength in duels, and the kind of left-footed balance that Arsenal have always seemed to have at left-back. He was bought with domestic and European success in mind.
The expectation from the fanbase was clear: this is a defender who can step straight into the Premier League, bring composure, and raise the technical floor of Arsenal’s defence.
But then there’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Hale End graduate has forced his way into the conversation with maturity well beyond his years. His appearances haven’t only been about his development; they’ve been about what he brings to the team. He plays with youthful energy that lifts the crowd and his teammates.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
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Experience or Energy Against Leeds?
The choice isn’t just about individuals; it’s about strategy. Leeds are a side that will try to break quickly, hitting on transitions and forcing defenders into one-v-one battles in wide areas. Calafiori brings the positional discipline and experience to manage those situations.
He knows how to read danger and snuff it out before it develops. He may still only be 23-years-old but he plays with the guile of somebody far senior.
Lewis-Skelly, on the other hand, offers something different. He presses high and is not afraid to move infield to receive the ball. The risk is obvious — his inexperience could be targeted, and a single lapse might hand Leeds the openings they’ll be desperate to find. This is exactly what happened in the pre-season North London Hong-Kong derby.
Mikel Arteta
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For Arteta, this is more than a simple team-sheet decision. It’s a philosophical one. Does he lean on the safe pair of hands in Calafiori, justifying the £42m (including add-ons) investment from Bologna and retaining him in as a starter? Or does he ride the wave of momentum and give Lewis-Skelly the platform to establsh himself as first-choice at the Emirates?
Whatever choice Arteta makes, it won’t just shape the Leeds game. It will send a message to the squad, future opponents, and to the fans.