Myles Lewis-Skelly has played the majority of his football in the Champions League this season, but that could come to an end against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 2025/26 campaign is getting serious, with knock-out football commencing in the Champions League.
It’s the stage of the season that the Arsenal squad must relish; however, some will be bracing themselves for change.
In the league phase, the Champions League became Lewis-Skelly’s happy place, playing 223 minutes more in Europe than in the Premier League.
Lewis-Skelly hasn’t played enough this season, and Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that, but the teenager’s outlook doesn’t look as though it will improve from here.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly could realise his game time this season is about to be reduced entirely
Lewis-Skelly played a role in seven of the eight Arsenal league phase fixtures in the Champions League, but it’s unclear whether his minutes will continue in the knockouts.
Riccardo Calafiori is back in training after going off against Mansfield Town, and even more notably, Piero Hincapie can play against his parent club due to UEFA rules.
With a unique knowledge of what Leverkusen can offer and being in the form that he is, Hincapie is surely a nailed-on starter at BayArena.
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Hincapie has been superb for Arsenal in recent weeks, so it’s only right that Arteta calls upon his most in-form left-back at this time.
The question is, what does that mean for Lewis-Skelly?
The defender isn’t getting minutes in the Premier League, last playing in the league eight weeks ago in early January.
We are also getting deeper into the cup competitions, which will prompt Arteta to play his best XI more frequently.
Lewis-Skelly must be asking where his next minutes will come, as the majority have come in the Champions League, which will surely change now that the knock-outs are here.
Mikel Arteta comments on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s minutes ahead of Bayer Leverkusen clash
It’s been a very disappointing season for Lewis-Skelly, who, after making his breakthrough, has been forced to take a back seat by no fault of his own.
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It was unsurprising that Arteta was asked about the 19-year-old’s minutes in his pre-match press conference.
“Every season is different. He’s had very good moments in the season, he’s had other moments when he hasn’t played that much,” the Arsenal manager explained.
“Obviously, a few days ago in the FA Cup, he was suspended, and he could not play, so there are various reasons. Sometimes, as well, the good form of your teammates is another factor that contributes to that, but he’s doing well.”
It’s just Lewis-Skelly’s luck that, on top of Calafiori’s impressive form earlier in the season, Hincapie arrived and has become the main man.
For Arsenal, the priority is to win, and the best XI is needed to do so, leaving Lewis-Skelly helpless in his bid to play more.
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