Myles Lewis-Skelly in action for Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta in a circular inset
(Credit: Imago)
Callum O'Connell
Mon 17 November 2025 14:23, UK
Arsenal have no plans to let Myles Lewis-Skelly leave the club in the January transfer window despite interest from both Everton and West Ham.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 19-year-old will have to fight for his place in the Gunners’ starting XI.
Despite being warned by Thomas Tuchel that he must play regular football to make England‘s World Cup squad, the left-back is likely to remain at the Emirates.
So far this season, he has played backup to Riccardo Calafiori, and has started four of his 12 appearances across all competitions raising concerns about his future.
However, with Mikel Arteta‘s side aiming to compete for silverware across all four competitions, they have no plans to weaken their squad in the mid-season window.
Myles Lewis-Skelly in action for Arsenal
Credit: Imago
Arsenal plan to keep Myles Lewis-Skelly
Football Insider revealed on 14 November that Arsenal are not willing to lose Lewis-Skelly mid-way through the season and see him as a valuable part of their plans.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Arteta plans to have two first-team quality players in every position in his bid to win silverware.
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“I would be very, very surprised if he left Arsenal,” he told Football Insider.
“If they get any injuries at left-back, he will be straight back into the starting XI, and that’s what the manager wants, to have two players in every position.
“Of course, he’s more than capable of starting for Arsenal, he showed that last season.
“He’s been out of the side recently, but they’re competing across four major competitions and will have to face the fixture congestion that comes as a result of that.
“They need every player they’ve got so that they can rotate and fill in if others aren’t ready.
Mikel Arteta is upset in the Arsenal dugout
Credit: Imago
“Lewis-Skelly will certainty be part of those plans because he is a very talented player and one they rate very highly at Arsenal.
“I can understand why there’s been the speculation about him because of the England situation, but from Arsenal’s point of view, there’s no way they’ll let him go.”
Arsenal making contract plans ahead of January window
While the Gunners remain determined not to lose any of their star players in the mid-season window, plans are now being put in place to keep them.
Football Insider revealed on 16 November that Arsenal are in talks with Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber to extend their contracts in the near future.
Timber has been outstanding for Arsenal this season and has quickly established himself as a key player in Arteta‘s side and as one of the best right-backs in Europe.
Jurrien Timber looking focused for Arsenal
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on 26 October that Saka is edging closer to an agreement with Arsenal on a deal which could be worth over £300,000 per week.
Arteta’s side have been praised for being proactive in contract talks, with William Saliba recently extending his stay at Arsenal and talks elsewhere progressing.
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