Mikel Arteta admitted Myles Lewis-Skelly became a liability in Arsenal’s 7-1 win over PSV, insisting the teenager must learn from the experience.
The young left-back has impressed in his breakout season and is reportedly in contention for Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad. He returned to the starting lineup but was substituted after 35 minutes.
The teenager recently served a domestic suspension after a red card against West Ham and previously had another overturned in January following a controversial challenge.
Lewis-Skelly had already been booked for a foul on Luuk de Jong and was lucky to avoid a second yellow after a challenge on Richard Ledezma, prompting Arteta to take him off.
Arteta stressed the importance of discipline, noting that football has a fine line between aggression and recklessness. He assured that the club would support Lewis-Skelly’s development.
Despite his early exit, Arteta praised the youngster’s intelligence, professionalism, and strong work ethic, emphasizing that he has the right environment to keep improving.
Arsenal had struggled to score in recent games but delivered a stunning attacking display against PSV, with Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, and Ethan Nwaneri all finding the net.
The Gunners now shift focus to crucial Premier League clashes, including a trip to Manchester United and a showdown with Chelsea before the international break.