Mikel Arteta opted to substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly inside the opening 35 minutes of Arsenal’s win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Gunners were 3-0 up when the Spaniard made the call, hooking the teenager for Riccardo Calafiori.
Lewis-Skelly was on a yellow card at the time, received for making a cynical foul that prevented PSV from launching a counter-attack at 2-0.
Arsenal went on to win 7-1, a result that all but secures their place in the last eight of Europe’s elite competition.
Mikel Arteta explains Myles Lewis-Skelly substitution for Arsenal against PSV
With the game on Tuesday night poised at 2-0 to Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly was arguably lucky to avoid a red card, tripping Richard Ledezema on the edge of the Gunners box, just minutes after being booked.
The referee let the starlet off the hook, but Arteta felt he couldn’t take any risk with the player, ruthlessly replacing him for Calafiori.
Speaking about the incident in his press conference on Friday afternoon, Arteta explained his decision while stating that Lewis-Skelly must learn from this.
“I think it was clear that we have a liability there with the yellow card, and then with the next action,” the Arsenal boss said.
“It wasn’t the moment to take any risk, and I’ve learnt from managing that experience in the game for so long, especially with how important this competition is.
“So, yeah, a lesson to learn from him for sure. We will support and help him. The line is really thin in this sport, and he needs to understand that.
“Yeah [he can learn quickly] because he’s very intelligent, very demanding of himself. Straight away his reaction is like that, he’s a perfectionist, he’s got a great environment around him and he’s here to learn as well.”
Arsenal fans are concerned about Lewis-Skelly’s discipline, as the 18-year-old has already received two red cards in his short career, and could’ve been handed another in the Netherlands.
However, the first red card was rescinded, while the following two incidents are merely a symptom of the youngster not being accustomed to defending deep in his own third, particularly in wide areas, given his upbringing as a midfielder.
Mikel Arteta on Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri’s England chances
Despite the challenges Lewis-Skelly has faced regarding cautions from officials, the Hale End graduate has been developing excellently and has firmly established himself as a first team regular this season.
Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are in contention to feature for England in Thomas Tuchel’s first international camp this month, but Arteta was coy on this when asked about it in his press conference.
“Well I have no idea,” the tactician said.
“Obviously, I’ve read and heard about it, the noise around it. Thomas will make the decision with his coaches and we will support it.”
However, the Arsenal manager did say that the experience would be hugely beneficial for the two players.
“Knowing Thomas and the environment him and his coaching staff have created around the England camp, I think it’ll be an incredible experience for them.”
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