Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly will not be able to take part in the FA Cup clash against Mansfield Town because of suspension.
The Gunners made it into the fifth round of the competition after comfortable wins against Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic.
Mikel Arteta’s side are the favourites to get past Mansfield Town as well on Saturday, but they will have to do so without Lewis-Skelly because of his yellow card accumulation.
Arsenal fans…how many goals can the Gunners put past Mansfield in the FA Cup?
Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended for Arsenal vs Mansfield Town
Myles Lewis-Skelly would’ve definitely started for Arsenal against Mansfield Town, but the rules will not allow him to take part.
The teenager started each of the Gunners’ last two games in the competition, and he performed fairly well both times.
However, the common theme in the two fixtures is that Lewis-Skelly picked up yellow cards in both games, taking him past the FA Cup’s threshold.
The rules state that any player who is yellow-carded in two games before the quarter-finals will receive an automatic one-game suspension.
That means Lewis-Skelly will have to stay back home in London while his teammates travel to Field Mill to take on Mansfield Town.
You’ve got to feel bad for the Arsenal academy graduate, who has had a really difficult season.
Lewis-Skelly has fallen behind Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order at left-back and has only played three times since the turn of the year – two of those came in the FA Cup.
It remains to be seen when the youngster will get another opportunity to start for Arsenal, but if recent history is anything to go by, it may not happen for several weeks.
Who should start in place of the suspended Myles Lewis-Skelly against Mansfield Town?
Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie or someone else?
Riccardo Calafiori is likely to start for Arsenal in place of Myles Lewis-Skelly
It is a real shame that Lewis-Skelly will miss the game against Mansfield Town, but that gives an opportunity to Calafiori to play at left-back.
We would’ve imagined that the Italian would have started as a centre-half against Mansfield Town, but he will now have to go wide.
Hincapie needs a break after playing almost every single game recently. Arteta should not start him, despite the blow caused by Lewis-Skelly’s suspension.
The most likely Arsenal back-four against Mansfield will be Calafiori at left-back, Salmon and William Saliba in the middle, and Cristhian Mosquera at right-back.
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