Myles Lewis-Skelly’s future at Arsenal has become a major talking point in recent months.
The teenager has struggled for regular minutes this season, falling behind both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in the pecking order.
To make matters worse, Arsenal are now being linked with moves for new left-backs, like Alvaro Carreras, ahead of the summer window.
That has naturally raised questions about whether Lewis-Skelly’s long-term future lies away from the Emirates. The feeling inside the club, however, appears to be very different.
Imagine you are Andrea Berta. How will you respond if Manchester United call you to sign Myles Lewis-Skelly?
Arsenal sources have said for months that Myles Lewis-Skelly is staying
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s lack of game time has been one of the biggest concerns this season.
The teenager ended last season as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back, but he has played just 1,448 minutes across all competitions and has started only two Premier League games.
That level of involvement is far from ideal for a player of his potential, and it has also likely cost him a chance of breaking into England’s World Cup squad.
Given that situation, it is no surprise that Lewis-Skelly is being linked with a move away from Arsenal, and as the transfer window approaches, those rumours are only expected to intensify.
However, according to Ben Jacobs, Arsenal’s internal stance has remained consistent for months – he is expected to stay.
The journalist told The United Stand: “Lewis-Skelly is maybe the most interesting of names that have been discussed. And we might see some movement there.
“I mean, Arsenal sources have said for many months that they expect him to stay, barring an astronomical offer, and yet the player’s looking for game time. And the advantage of him is that he can invert. He can go into defensive midfield. You get a bit of a two-for-one in the right system as well.
“So, what constitutes astronomical, it’s kind of hard to estimate, but it would, at minimum, start with a five, so £50 million.”
If you could set Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s price tags, how much would you demand?
There’s a smarter solution to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s game time problem
While Arsenal want to keep Lewis-Skelly, his need for regular minutes cannot be ignored, as simply sitting on the bench will not help his development.
That is why a loan move could be the perfect solution for all parties involved. It would allow him to play consistently while still remaining part of the Gunners’ long-term plans.
If the teenager performs well, he could return as a more complete player ready to challenge for a starting spot. Even if Arsenal eventually decide to sell, a strong loan spell would increase his value significantly.
The same approach could also apply to Ethan Nwaneri, who has faced similar challenges this season.
In either case, selling should be the last thing on Andrea Berta’s mind.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
