Myles Lewis-Skelly: Spooky Scary Skelly

[Nawoo81]

Arteta seems to prefer him starting in the champions league. Him up against Olise and Karl is a huge test and pretty much every other team fails it. Don't know why everyone is so hard on him for.

 

[Legend14]

Last year it was surprising he did so well given he is not an outside back. Credit to him.

This year his inexperience has been exposed (Defensive timing, reading body language, angles). I’d like to see him in for Rice where he can be a bit more aggressive on the ball going forward, where he excels.

The midfield mentality he shows in the back is simply too risky. Mistakes back there are costly since you have no one behind you to recover.

 

[Clrnc]

He was up against probably the 2nd best RW in the world right now with 11g/a and incredible ball control, best ever since Mahrez but he didnt do that badly tbh.

People also always make the same mistakes of judging players who's in and out of the team. Most players need a run of games to be totally sharp. He's pretty rusty.

 

[bastun]

My boy really surprised us all. After the generational run he had last year, I expected him to bench Calafiori.
One thing I am quite baffled with his recent performances is his 1v1 defending. Last season he destroyed couple of the best wingers at that time ( Savinho, Kulusevski, Rodrygo ) This season so far he is shocking defensively. Olise had a field day.
I hope MLS regains his confidence because I am sure he will play a lot of games and will be needed.

 

[Fallout]

His long term future is not at LB

Not because of what we saw last night, but more so because of what Arteta wants in that position

Calafiori, Hincapie, Timber, White ... these are players who have experience at CB and therefore possess the defensive positioning, height, and strength that comes with it (I understand Timber is short but he wins headers like a 6 footer)

Skelly needs to be playing the Declan Rice role, where he can use his ball carrying and progressive passing to better effect, and where his good but not great defensive attributes can be hidden a little bit

That being said, I don't think he ever becomes a starter here unless he improves defensively ... even as a midfielder

 

[viktor]

yeah this is great point and common knowledge, dont know why skelly still play at left back

 

[bastun]

Most of you say his future is at midfield but what position exactly. I don't think he is a box to box like Rice. He doesn't have the engine. His best attribute is evading the press with shimmies and his core strength and running forward with the ball. He is a 6 in my eyes , but I am not sure he can be a metronome and a tempo setter like Zubi. Also his defensive frailties will get massively exposed when he starts to defend the box in front of the 2 CBs.

 

[berric]

yeah this is great point and common knowledge, dont know why skelly still play at left back

I think Arteta will gradually shift him to CM now. It's good for him to play LB to learn some defensive awareness and also playing close to the touchline as that's what Arteta often requires from his midfielders to stretch the space.

People forget that he's just 19 fgs, still teenager, and he's a super talent.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

It was one poor game up against an elite winger. It happens to the best.

This stuff is the definition of knee jerk.

 

[HollandGooner]

It was one poor game up against an elite winger. It happens to the best.

This stuff is the definition of knee jerk.

Also he is not playing very often so it can happen i agreed, but also i think its time to get him some playing time in midfield when needed.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

think next season Arteta will likely sell Nørgaard buy LB or CB and give MLS minutes in midfield. don't think LB is his position i like MLS more when he with ball and near to other team goal

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

think next season Arteta will likely sell Nørgaard buy LB or CB and give MLS minutes in midfield. don't think LB is his position i like MLS more when he with ball and near to other team goal

Agree it depends on how Hincapie is better at CB or LB to buy a new CB or LB

 

[Fallout]

Most of you say his future is at midfield but what position exactly. I don't think he is a box to box like Rice. He doesn't have the engine. His best attribute is evading the press with shimmies and his core strength and running forward with the ball. He is a 6 in my eyes , but I am not sure he can be a metronome and a tempo setter like Zubi. Also his defensive frailties will get massively exposed when he starts to defend the box in front of the 2 CBs.

I see him in the Rice position

As you highlighted, the one thing he's missing for that role is stamina

But my guess is it's easier to develop that as you enter into your twenties ... in contrast to the spatial awareness and defensive instinct needed to play fullback and DM to the highest level

And he's exceptional driving into space and even linking up around the box -- important traits for box to box

 

[bastun]

I see him in the Rice position

As you highlighted, the one thing he's missing for that role is stamina

But my guess is it's easier to develop that as you enter into your twenties ... in contrast to the spatial awareness and defensive instinct needed to play fullback and DM to the highest level

And he's exceptional driving into space and even linking up around the box -- important traits for box to box

Driving into space is his specialty. Time will tell what Arteta thinks of his position, but so far he doesn't trust him enough to put him in the middle regardless of 6 or 8.
Anyway I am not worried at all because the kid showed his mentality last year.
Imo he is in some sort of a dip and lack of confidence. He will be back but his defending is sus at the moment and his Achilles' heel, the long diagonal balls behind his back, is getting exposed every time he starts. Up to him and the coaches to overcome this.

 

[Red London]

Most of you say his future is at midfield but what position exactly. I don't think he is a box to box like Rice. He doesn't have the engine. His best attribute is evading the press with shimmies and his core strength and running forward with the ball. He is a 6 in my eyes , but I am not sure he can be a metronome and a tempo setter like Zubi. Also his defensive frailties will get massively exposed when he starts to defend the box in front of the 2 CBs.

He can play LCM for us. Ball carrying, dribbling in tight spaces, and threading delicious through balls between the opposition RB and CB.

He doesn’t need to have everything Rice has to be a different option to Rice. MLS can work on his stamina etc but won’t be workhorse like Rice or a ball striker like him. What MLS has is tight dribbling, ball control, press resistance and can certainly develop a final ball.

We need a technical 8 in this team as an option and he could be that.

 

[Geofranco]

Most of you say his future is at midfield but what position exactly. I don't think he is a box to box like Rice. He doesn't have the engine. His best attribute is evading the press with shimmies and his core strength and running forward with the ball. He is a 6 in my eyes , but I am not sure he can be a metronome and a tempo setter like Zubi. Also his defensive frailties will get massively exposed when he starts to defend the box in front of the 2 CBs.

You think Zubi could play in the EPL and this current iteration of Arsenal at 19? Even Rice wasn't at Skelly's current level at 19. Arteta might not even be the manager at Arsenal 5 years from now and by then, Skelly will still be 24. Current age of Saka, Saliba and Timber.

 

[bastun]

You think Zubi could play in the EPL and this current iteration of Arsenal at 19? Even Rice wasn't at Skelly's current level at 19. Arteta might not even be the manager at Arsenal 5 years from now and by then, Skelly will still be 24. Current age of Saka, Saliba and Timber.

He just raised the standards so much last year , that we expect unreal level from a 19 years old. I understand this. As I said , I am not worried , just stating some facts about his game so far.

 

[Trilly]

Last season he destroyed couple of the best wingers at that time ( Savinho, Kulusevski, Rodrygo ) This season so far he is shocking defensively.

Part of it is that those guys aren’t even that good

I think Arteta will gradually shift him to CM now. It's good for him to play LB to learn some defensive awareness and also playing close to the touchline as that's what Arteta often requires from his midfielders to stretch the space.

People forget that he's just 19 fgs, still teenager, and he's a super talent.

Also when it comes to being eased into playing CM as a young player you can’t ask for a better midfield partner than Zubi or Rice.

The double pivot should make it much easier to ease him in and that’s before you factor in the quality of player he’ll be alongside. Just don’t partner him with Nørgaard and I really cant see MLS being a total liability in midfield.

 

[Rasmi]

I got so much sh1t in the summer when I said he ended the season poorly last season and was the weakness in defence. He’s still young.

 

[viktor]

You think Zubi could play in the EPL and this current iteration of Arsenal at 19? Even Rice wasn't at Skelly's current level at 19. Arteta might not even be the manager at Arsenal 5 years from now and by then, Skelly will still be 24. Current age of Saka, Saliba and Timber.

wow this is great point and give checkmate