ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta says Myles Lewis-Skelly could get more minutes in midfield in the absence of Mikel Merino.
Merino, 29, broke a bone in his foot last month during Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United and faces a fight to play again this season.
The Gunners tried to bring someone in before Monday’s transfer deadline as cover, but they were unable to.
Arteta will have to look internally for solutions and he is ready to call upon Lewis-Skelly.
The teenager came through Arsenal’s academy as a midfielder, however he has played at a left-back in the first team.
And asked if Lewis-Skelly could play in midfield more now Merino is out, Arteta said: “Yeah.
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“Myles has the qualities to play in different positions. He has played as a full-back, as a No6 or as an attacking midfielder even. So yes, that is an option that we have in his squad.
“I believed that he had the best chance to break into the first team playing in that position [left back], because I think he has unique qualities that we didn’t have in the squad to accommodate that and to give him the chance to play for us.”
Here SunSport breaks down three potential starting XIs that Arteta could use to fit Lewis-Skelly into his midfield…
IT COULD BE GR-EIGHT
Lewis-Skelly made his name coming through Arsenal’s academy as a rampaging No8.
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Youth coaches were impressed with his ability to carry the ball huge distances without being tackled.
In one famous clip from Arsenal’s ‘Inside Hale End’ documentary, a 15-year-old Lewis-Skelly catches the eye against Chelsea with a monster run.
A coach on the sideline is overheard on the sidelines, saying: “It’s like Jonah Lomu, isn’t it?”
Lewis-Skelly could slot in as a left No8 in Arsenal’s midfield trio, providing cover when Declan Rice is rested.
As a natural left footer he would give the team balance and, like Rice, he could give the team drive by surging forward and breaking into the box.
CENTRE OF ATTENTION
Martin Zubimendi has become the heartbeat of Arsenal’s midfield and no one in the squad has played more minutes than him this season.
But the Spaniard will surely need a break or two over the next few months as the Gunners fight for trophies on four fronts.
Christian Norgaard is an option to play at the base of midfield – but Lewis-Skelly can operate there, too.
The teenager did so on occasion for Arsenal’s youth teams and he has the attributes to shine in such a role.
Lewis-Skelly is strong and powerful, so he can break up play, but he has composure on the ball as well.
He is happy to receive possession with his back to goal and under pressure from opposition players.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Arteta tweaked his formation for the past two games and Arsenal lined up in a 4-2-3-1.
The shift has seen the Gunners play with a double pivot at the base of midfield.
Rice and Zubimendi did so against Leeds last Saturday and it worked well, with Arteta’s side 4-0 winners.
If Arteta continues with that then Lewis-Skelly could slot in as one of the two players in front of the defence.
He would suit playing on the left of a double pivot as that is his natural side.
The teenager routinely tucks into midfield when playing left-back and he would occupy the same spaces when playing in a double pivot.
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