Arsenal fans weren’t particularly impressed with one player during the Gunners’ Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
The North Londoners hosted the Spanish giants at the Emirates, looking to continue their impressive form and claim their third consecutive victory in Europe’s elite competition.
Having beaten Athletic Club and Olympiacos in their first two, Diego Simeone’s men were bound to present a more challenging opponent, and unsurprisingly, a tight game ensued.
Mikel Arteta opted to make two changes from the side that overcame Fulham on the weekend, with Myles Lewis-Skelly replacing Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli coming in for Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal fans react to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performance vs Atletico Madrid
Calafiori has usurped Lewis-Skelly in the pecking order at Arsenal this season.
The Hale End graduate is yet to start a game in the Premier League, with the Italian now firmly considered the first-choice left-back.
Thus, when Lewis-Skelly does get opportunities to impress, he needs to make sure he makes the most of them, to stake a claim to be in the starting eleven more regularly.
Deployed on the left of the Gunners’ back four against Atletico, the 19-year-old struggled for large periods, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.
Clumsily bringing Guiliano Simeone down early on, Lewis-Skelly was lucky to avoid a booking. Arsenal fans took to social media to express their concern over the player’s lack of discipline in certain scenarios.
One fan wrote on X: “Lewis Skelly shouldn’t have been started in this game. He can be very reckless and can lose possession in dangerous positions.”
Another added: “Lewis-Skelly getting away with fouls. Fair enough, man.”
One supporter wrote: “Bright start from Saka but I’m still worried about Lewis-Skelly.”
Meanwhile, another fan simply posted: “Lewis-Skelly is lacking match sharpness.”
Myles Lewis-Skelly needs a run of games to find his rhythm
Lewis-Skelly could play in midfield and thrive in a central role.
However, for now, he needs to fight for his place back in the role that earned him a spot in the first-team in the first place.
Unfortunately, Calafiori’s form means it’s possible that he doesn’t get much of a look-in in the coming weeks. Thus, he’s merely likely to come in and look rusty, which is likely to prompt criticism.
The final fan’s assessment was likely the most accurate; Lewis-Skelly looks like he lacks match sharpness, and it’s no surprise given how few minutes he’s played in recent months.
He’s the sort of player who feeds on adrenaline and momentum, so Arteta will need to blood him more regularly if he wants to get the best out of the starlet.
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