Arsenal are preparing to welcome Fulham to the Emirates Stadium as their end of season run in begins.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to build momentum in the Premier League with wins over Fulham and Everton before their mouth-watering Champions League quarter final with Real Madrid.
Arsenal have many former stars now at Fulham and the game will see Emile Smith Rowe return to the club for the first time since his switch to West London in the summer transfer window.
Hale End stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have moved into the spotlight following Smith Rowe’s departure and the positioning of where both players will end up in Arteta’s team is causing a lively discussion.
Myles Lewis-Skelly reveals verdict on Arsenal position
Nwaneri’s role is a dilemma for Arteta as the return of Bukayo Saka and upturn in form of Martin Odegaard means that the youngster may have to find himself in an unfamiliar position.
Lewis-Skelly’s role as a left back or as a midfielder has also caused debate for club and country and the 18-year-old has now spoken for the first time on the topic.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Lewis-Skelly stated: “I want to be effective in all positions, so to be honest, left-back wasn’t really too different from midfield because I roll inside with the ball, still dictating play.”
Thomas Tuchel revealed his verdict on Lewis-Skelly and agreed that the current role at left back is where he saw the Gunners star playing his best football in the future.
Declan Rice makes interesting prediction over Lewis-Skelly position
Arsenal and England team mate Declan Rice has also given his view on Lewis-Skelly’s ideal position in the same interview with Sky Sports and believes the youngster will become a midfielder.
Rice stated: “”I think the way the manager plays with the rolled inside left-back suits Myles to a tee. I think he will eventually be a midfielder and he’s got all the capabilities to play number six, number eight, wherever he wants really.
“But at the minute he’s excelling as a left-back. Even his defensive duels, his one-v-ones are outstanding.” Rice himself has been subject to discussion over whether he best suits a number six or number eight role.
Flexibility and fluidity are traits of the way Arteta likes his teams to play football and with so many players having the ability to play in a number of roles, it helps the manager to make effective tactical tweaks.
Arteta will be tested none more so than when he comes up against Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid side and the Spaniard will have to use all his creativity and inventiveness to progress past the European champions.
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