Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that Myles Lewis-Skelly was replaced to PSV on Tuesday after 35 minutes because the “liability” of the 18-year-old who received a red card was “pretty clear”.
Starting at the left back in Eindhoven, Lewis-Skell was lucky to avoid a second yellow card from referee Jesus Gil Manzano when he brought down Richard Ledezma deep into the Arsenal half.
“I didn’t want to take any risks and manage the game for so long, especially with how important competition is,” said Arteta about the 7-1 round of 16 win in the first legs, in which Lewis-Skelly was replaced by Riccardo Calafiori.
“It was quite clear that we had liability with the yellow card and the next one [foul]. It is certainly a lesson to learn for him. We will support and help him.
“The line is really thin in sport and he must understand that. He is very intelligent and extremely demanding in himself. He is a perfectionist and he is here to learn. ‘
Arsenal fans love Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri ❤️
(📸 Via @Arsenal)) pic.twitter.com/brkyovgqlr
– Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primeevideosport) February 2, 2025
Myles Lewis-Skelly Suspension
Arteta focuses on a first Premier League goal and wins in three games when his players visit Manchester United on Sunday (4.30 pm GMT).
Lewis-Skelly is available again after serving a suspension of one match for the 0-0 draw in Nottingham Forest on 26 February, after a video assistant referee review in the 73rd minute of the 1-0 home defeat against West Ham four days earlier.
Academy product Lewis-Skelly was also rejected in the 43rd minute of the 1-0 victory of Arsenal at Wolves on January 25, with his sentence later destroyed on appeal.
A special evening ♥ ️
View highlights of our 7-1 win over PSV in the Champions League on Tuesday 👇 pic.twitter.com/2jszw92kjf
– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) March 7, 2025
Ayden Heaven to tackle Arsenal?
A graduated gunners who could be in the opposition team in Old Trafford is Ayden Heaven, who moved between the clubs earlier this year for a “substantial” compensation costs, in the footsteps of forward Chido Obi-Martin last summer.
“When a player decides that the best path is for him to leave, you can’t do much”, Arteta accepted.
“It’s very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy for it [them] To be very successful with the first team … we couldn’t do that.
“I guarantee you, if there is a player who can help the first team and have an impact, he will be with us.”
🗣️ “I guarantee you, if there is a player in the academy who can help us, he will be with us.”
Mikel Arteta says it was “a pity” to lose Chido Obi-Martin and Ayden Heaven, but insists that there is a clear path for Academy Players to Arsenal’s first team 🛣️🔴 pic.twitter.com/xz4rmbvhcj
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsnews) March 7, 2025
Man United vs Arsenal
Second placed Arsenal are 21 points above the 14th placed United States in the table, but their chances of catching leaders Liverpool seem slim with 11 league games of the remaining season of the Gunners.
The Reds will be 16 points clear if she wins at home to Rock-Bottom Southampton on Saturday (3 p.m. GMT), although they have played two more games at that time.
United attracted 1-1 in La Liga Club Real Sociedad in the first stage of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.
