Arsenal fans urge Mikel Arteta to change Myles Lewis-Skelly’s position after draw vs Aston Villa

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Following another impressive display in an Arsenal shirt, the North London club’s supporters have urged Mikel Arteta to use Myles Lewis-Skelly in a different role.

In what has been a testing season, the emergence of Lewis-Skelly in the first-team has been a major positive for the Gunners.

The teenager is establishing himself as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back and Riccardo Calafiori faces a stern test to win back his spot in the team.

However, Arsenal fans are convinced that Lewis-Skelly’s talent is wasted as a left-back and long-term they have told the manager to use him elsewhere.

Arsenal fans want Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield

Arsenal supporters have called for Myles Lewis-Skelly to be moved into the left-sided central midfield role.

Arteta has struggled to find the answer to complete his midfield trio alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but the fans believe their academy star is that man.

Lewis-Skelly has been thrust into the team following Calafiori’s injury and has taken the opportunity with both hands by impressing in the back line.

The youngster has shone in this role with Paul Merson hailing Lewis-Skelly as the ‘best left-back in the world at his age’.

Following the draw against Aston Villa, the Gunners fans took to X to share their desire for Lewis-Skelly to be played in a central midfield role.

One fan said: “Another great game from Lewis-Skelly so far, and in this game we can see his best position is central midfield.”

“Lewis-Skelly is elite! He is the box-to-box midfielder we’ve been looking for in that left central midfield position,” added another.

There was yet another shout for Lewis-Skelly to play central midfield: “Arteta has tried many options in left centre mid but none have met the expectations.

“Myles Lewis-Skelly is a natural LCM from our academy and will fit there perfectly. Yes, he can cover left-back as well, but he should be prepared for that LCM role from the start of next season.”

“I really want to see Lewis-Skelly LCM. He is a natural midfielder doing a great job at left-back but I would love to see him in midfield,” claimed another supporter.

What Mikel Arteta said about moving Myles Lewis-Skelly to left-back

Arteta admitted he was eager to integrate Lewis-Skelly into the first team but believes he could only fit him into the project by moving him from midfield to left-back.

But given just how good he has been, the Gunners need for another central midfield and when Calafiori returns, that opinion could well change.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of the Villa game, Arteta told Arsenal: “When I saw him, to give him a chance and with the project that we had in the academy the moment that I saw him, the only way I could think was to change his position.

“I spoke to him and said I think this is where you’re going to have it, because I think it fits a lot of his qualities, the way that we play and it fits because we had necessities in the position, so we started to work on that.

“He got into it straight away with the personality that he has. I think it’s very obvious and now he’s doing it.”