The real reason England snubbed Myles Lewis-Skelly paints Mikel Arteta badly

The Real Reason England Snubbed Myles Lewis-Skelly Reflects Poorly on Mikel Arteta

Myles Lewis-Skelly was excluded from the England national team, and much of the responsibility lies with Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta. Despite a strong call-up during recent friendlies and impressive performances under Thomas Tuchel, England chose a defensive approach that left the Arsenal youngster out.

This outcome was somewhat predictable. Lewis-Skelly's standing shifted dramatically over the summer, moving from a key player to someone struggling for game time. Last season, he was Arsenal's primary left back without question, but now he barely sees minutes on the pitch.

Riccardo Calafiori currently holds the preferred spot in that position, as Arsenal has essentially finalized their defensive lineup. This situation leaves little room for Lewis-Skelly's development unless changes occur at both club and national levels.

Thomas Tuchel's Warning

Last month, Thomas Tuchel emphasized the importance of consistent club-level performance to players including Lewis-Skelly. Unfortunately, Arteta appears to have overlooked or ignored this crucial advice.

"To just be a good citizen in camp will not be enough over the course of a year. [Lewis-Skelly] was a very good player in camp, a very good team-mate in camp. But being a good team-mate in camp may not be good enough to stay the whole year with us."
"You have to perform at club level on a regular basis."

Outlook

For Lewis-Skelly to regain favor with both Arsenal and England, his playing time and form at the club must improve significantly.

Author's summary: Lewis-Skelly's exclusion from England highlights Arteta’s failure to provide the youngster with sufficient playing opportunities, undermining his international prospects.

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