For Arsenal, it was a great afternoon in North London, as Mikel Arteta’s team defeated Sunderland 3-0; however, for Myles Lewis-Skelly, it was another game sat on the bench.
Following an incredible breakout campaign last season, things have not looked quite as positive for the youngster this time around.
👀 Use ONE WORD to describe Myles Lewis-Skelly’s current game time at Arsenal…
The 19-year-old has featured in just two of the Gunners’ last seven matches, and his game time at the Emirates Stadium continues to look worrying.
Lewis-Skelly was linked away from Arsenal in January, but he ended up staying; a decision which he might be regretting right now.
Myles Lewis-Skelly left on the Arsenal bench again vs Sunderland
Myles Lewis-Skelly once again found himself stuck on the Arsenal bench and behind both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in the pecking order.
Calafiori made his first Premier League start since December 20 as he returned from a muscle injury which had left him sidelined.
Rather than Lewis-Skelly getting the nod to cover him, Hincapie has been the player to feature at left-back and has done a great job by all accounts.
That now leaves the Hale End graduate in a rather precarious position with the Gunners, as there is not much space for him in the squad when the pair are both fit.
Who is Arsenal’s best left-back: RICCARDO CALAFIORI or PIERO HINCAPIE?
In total, this season, the teenager has played just 312 minutes of league action and been left on the bench in four of the last five games.
Back in October, Arteta raved about Lewis-Skelly to Arsenal’s official website, labelling his performance against Olympiacos as ‘very good’.
Although Arteta no longer seems to trust the defender quite like he did last season, Hincapie’s arrival in North London has been terrible for his development.
Come the end of the season, and he could have a Premier League winners’ medal, but right now, his contribution to the campaign has been minimal.
Riccardo Calafiori struggled against Sunderland
For Calafiori, it was not his finest performance in an Arsenal shirt, as he was eventually subbed off after 67 minutes.
The defender managed to commit three fouls, won just six of his 12 duels and completed 81 per cent of his passes against the Black Cats.
Hincapie now looks set to start the midweek game against Brentford as the Italian continues to get back up to speed after a few weeks sidelined.
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