Mikel Arteta definitely needs to change ‘scary’ Arsenal star’s position after his performance vs Villarreal

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Mikel Arteta might be tempted to alter one Arsenal player’s position after watching the Gunners’ defeat to Villarreal.

Arsenal lost 3-2 to Villarreal in a performance at the Emirates that had a pre-season feel. 

Arteta will want to see more from several players before the Premier League season kicks off at Old Trafford, with the Arsenal manager given lots of pointers from the contest against the Spanish side.

One player who was in the spotlight was Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has just been nominated for the best young player award at the Ballon d’Or.

• READ MORE: 14-touch Arsenal player may have just changed Mikel Arteta’s transfer plans after Villarreal loss

Myles Lewis-Skelly needs a position change at Arsenal 

Bukayo Saka admitted Lewis-Skelly’s potential is ‘scary’, but what exactly does the future hold for the Englishman?

Against Villarreal, and in other pre-season games, the teenager has looked a tad uncomfortable at left-back, despite rising as a starter in the role last season.

That being said, the 18-year-old was always identified as a central midfielder, but has yet to play the position in Arsenal’s first team squad.

Nicolas Pepe scored against Arsenal, with his goal capping off a performance that saw him run Lewis-Skelly ragged on the right side, consistently testing the youngster’s defensive skills.

Though the England international won as many as 10 duels against the Spanish side, his heatmap proved that he was desperate to continually venture inside.

Interestingly, after being tested by Pepe in the first half, Lewis-Skelly came out in the second half and was spotted in far more inverted positions, which was when he started to grab more of a hold on the game.

Could it be time for Arteta to play the midfielder in his favoured position? The option might just be there now that Ben White is back to full fitness and dominating on the right, leaving a vacancy for Jurrien Timber.

Jack Wilshere didn’t see Lewis-Skelly as a left-back

Though Lewis-Skelly appeared to struggle when in isolated positions on the left, Villarreal could not live with the teenager when he was in possession.

Such was highlighted by the seven fouls he drew during the contest, as he was unstoppable when driving with the ball.

When in full flow, Lewis-Skelly is like a young Jack Wilshere, which is ironic, as the former Arsenal U18 coach only ever saw the Hale End product as a midfielder.

“I don’t think he’ll be a left-back; he’ll be a midfielder,” Wilshere said of Lewis-Skelly’s best position in 2023.

Given how fearless and confident Lewis-Skelly is now that he’s fully adapted to senior football, now could be the time for Arteta to give the 18-year-old a run in central midfield.