A little over a year ago, Miles Lewis-Skelly (Londres, Inglaterra, 2006) amazed the world with their quarter-final tie Champions before him Real Madrid and, at just 18 years old, he was running as the starting left back for England facing the World. Hence it has been an object as a result of the little prominence that has been given to it throughout the season by a Mikel Arteta which, now, has taken him out of the hole.
Trained as a pivot during his time at the academy Arsenal, Mikel Arteta He made his debut at the end of September of last year against the Manchester City replacing Timber in injury time. That afternoon, still frightened by the magnitude of the stage, Haaland tried to intimidate him… and Lewis-Skelly He answered him in the second leg in the Emirates closing the ‘little hand’ and copying his celebration.
In between, taking advantage of the recurring physical problems of Calafiori, Mikel Arteta He had converted him as a left back and the feeling is that he had found a treasure. He had a tremendously dominant lower body for his age and his ability to overcome pressure was a master card when it came to joining the midfield to allow Declan Rice enhance its most accessible version.
I am very happy. Now it’s about being consistent
“He uses his body to escape from situations and, sometimes, it is risky. But showing that at 18 years old, with the personality and character that does it, seems incredible to me,” praised the man himself. Rice. “I’m very happy. Now it’s about being consistent,” he emphasized. Arteta following the praise received after his brilliant performances against the Real Madrid. I was still a child. But he was solving the headache that the left back of his team had become. Arsenal.
He had taken over the position. However, the ownership of Calafiori in this season’s premiere against Manchester United predicted that Arteta He had other plans and his intention was to build a Arsenal more solid without the ball. The results are there: you have the leading team of the Premier —with a lead of one game— and in the semifinals of the Champions having conceded 41 goals in 58 games in all competitions. There is no defense in Europa let him approach them.
Lewis-Skelly radar (24-25 and 25-26)
Both Emphasis like his own Calafiorimore dominant in metrics of tackles (2.0 and 1.4), interceptions (1.0 and 0.7) or clearances (3.7 and 2.2), began to take over a Miles Lewis-Skelly who has barely enjoyed 15 starts in 31 games when, last year, he started in 26 of the 39 games he played. The toll to pay has been evident and, throughout the season, there has been a Arsenal who has suffered from a multitude of creativity problems.
“It doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong, quite the opposite. When you have the opportunity, you have to raise the bar and make the decision even more difficult,” said one Mikel Arteta who lined up again at the start in the defeat against Bournemouth on April 11 to a Lewis-Skelly who hadn’t played a minute in Premier since the beginning of January. He did it as a left back and, although he improved every play he was involved in (26/29 passes), he seemed much more inhibited when it came to joining the midfield with Zubimendi
Lewis-Skelly’s actions with the ball against Fulham
Since then, he had barely played nine minutes in the victory against the Newcastle…until Arteta He pulled it again this weekend against the Fulham. He did it as a starter and, most strikingly, acting in the double pivot alongside Rice. The response could not have been better: he participated in 78 actions, completed 64/66 passes (97%), lost only six balls and recovered another six, forced four fouls and won 9/11 duels (82%).
In short, it provided a dynamism in the management of the game that had been missing this Arsenal…in addition to increasing performance when it comes to giving balance to the team in the defensive phase. “When I saw the lineup in the locker room I had to rub my eyes,” he admitted. Lewis-Skellywho “was very excited to return to the center of the field and receive the confidence of the coach.”
I have been hard on him. He had a spectacular season when he joined the first team and has gone through difficult times
“Maybe I should have done it sooner. It was a risk. If it works, great. But, if we had lost, what would have happened?” Mikel Arteta who, in any case, celebrated his performance. “I have been hard on him. He had a spectacular season when he joined the first team and has gone through difficult times. But he remained humble and focused. Today he has been rewarded.” They were not empty words and that’s how it felt when they both hugged at the end of the game. “Our connection is strong,” confessed a Miles Lewis-Skelly that has come out of the hole.
