Arsenal fans are convinced academy starlet can replace Oleksandr Zinchenko after pre-season win

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Arsenal recorded a 2-0 victory over Leyton Orient behind closed doors ahead of their pre-season tour to the USA.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe gave Arsenal the victory in their first pre-season outing, which saw a mixed team of first-team stars and academy talents given a run-out.

Jesus was impressive on both goals, with fans eager to see him back to his best, whilst there was also a lot of excitement over some of the young talents on display.

After a day of fury as it emerged that academy sensation Chido Obi-Martin is set to leave, there is now excitement again as Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in the victory, and fans are delighted with how he performed in a new role as an inverted left-back.

Arsenal fans praise Myles Lewis-Skelly performance at left-back in pre-season victory

Arsenal fans took to X to praise Lewis-Skelly for his role in the buildup to Jesus’ goal, which saw him break the lines with an outstanding pass, and many claimed that he could be the ideal long-term replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko as a midfielder moving to left-back.

“Inverted MLS. Look at the timing of the release; how, despite not being a ‘sitter’ profile he still compliments movers around him. If you add more of this tempo setting to his outrageous carrying game already, wow,” one fan highlighted.

“That initial disguised pass from Lewis Skelly , nice stuff,” another added.

“If we fumble Myles Lewis-Skelly, I won’t forgive anyone. Realistically he should be getting meaningful and a pretty decent amount of minutes this season, he doesn’t look out of place in men’s football. A profile that could save us so many millions, just needs to be trusted,” one fan posted.

“The opening pass from Lewis-Skelly shows you a little sneak peak of what he offers in midfield. Decisive passing, progressive, creative. MLS is the future heartbeat of Arsenal,” another pointed out.

“I think he’ll play U-21 but get considerable minutes at LB for the senior team and next season he’ll replace Zinchenko,” one stated of his chances next season.

“Lewis-Skelly at LB is an interesting one. Given the fitness issues of Tomi and Zinchenko, he could be in line for cup minutes this season (assuming Kiwior is sold),” one fan stated of Arsenal’s left-backs.

Myles Lewis-Skelly could move to a left-back role for Arsenal

The highly-rated teenager typically plays as a midfielder in the academy sides, but Arsenal are seemingly considering developing him as a left-back.

As a midfielder who excels on the ball, Lewis-Skelly could replace Zinchenko’s profile in the squad in the long run.

Zinchenko has an uncertain future, with just two years left on his deal, and if he does leave this summer, perhaps the replacement for him will be an internal one, in addition to Riccardo Calafiori.