Lewis-Skelly returned to Mikel Arteta’s starting XI for the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night having missed last week’s draw with Nottingham Forest through suspension.
But once again Lewis-Skelly’s inexperience showed and the 18-year-old was perhaps fortunate to remain on the field after fouling PSV defender Richard Ledezma while already on a booking.
The yellow was Lewis-Skelly’s sixth card of the season in all competitions and Arteta made the decision to take the teenager out of the firing line to remove the risk of another sending off, with Riccardo Calafiori introduced in place of the teenager in the 35th minute.
And it was Calafiori who scored the seventh and final goal as the Gunners took one giant step towards the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier competition.
Get personalised updates on your team every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard were Arsenal’s other goalscorers at Eindhoven’s Philips Stadion.
Reacting to the win on the Wrighty’s House podcast, legendary ex-Arsenal striker Wright praised the movement of Arteta’s attacking players and gave special mention to Merino, who once again impressed as a false nine.
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg
The Gunners all but confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United v Leicester City - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Wright was blown away by Arsenal’s display in the Netherlands (Picture: Getty)
‘I have to mention Merino, simply because his performance up there,’ Wright said.
‘I just felt like the ball was sticking in an area where an Odegaard gets to play.
‘Trossard was going on a mad ting! He’s was going off with some stuff!
‘Trossard, Merino, Ethan and Martin… unbelievable moment. And then Declan [Rice] blasting through! They couldn’t get near us, the movement from the frontmen.’
'I knew it was coming': Arteta makes light of Arsenal's 7-1 demolition of PSV
Video Player is loading.
Chris Eubank Jr broke an egg with Conor Benn's face at chaotic press conference
Play Video: Emma Raducanu comforted by Umpire after being targeted by 'fixated' man
Emma Raducanu comforted by Umpire after being targeted by 'fixated' man
Play Video: Andy Murray shares footage of himself learning to ski
Andy Murray shares footage of himself learning to ski
Play Video: Amorim reacts to Man Utd getting knocked out cup by Fulham on penalties
Amorim reacts to Man Utd getting knocked out cup by Fulham on penalties
Play Video: Mikel Arteta previews PSV vs Arsenal
Mikel Arteta previews PSV vs Arsenal
Play Video: Arteta urges Arsenal to 'step up' after goalless draw to Nott'm Forest
Arteta urges Arsenal to 'step up' after goalless draw to Nott'm Forest
Play Video: Ruben Amorim previews Man United vs Fulham
Ruben Amorim previews Man United vs Fulham
Play Video: Amorim defends Patrick Dorgu after error and red card against Ipswich
Amorim defends Patrick Dorgu after error and red card against Ipswich
Play Video: All Blacks take legal action against Sir Jim Ratcliffe
All Blacks take legal action against Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Play Video: Mapi León accused of touching opponent's 'private parts'
Mapi León accused of touching opponent's 'private parts'
Play Video: Maresca speaks after Chelsea thrash Southampton 4-0
Maresca speaks after Chelsea thrash Southampton 4-0
Play Video: Mikel Arteta refuses to rule Arsenal out of the Premier League
Mikel Arteta refuses to rule Arsenal out of the Premier League
Play Video: Pep Guardiola previews Man City v Plymouth in the FA Cup
Pep Guardiola previews Man City v Plymouth in the FA Cup
Play Video: Guardiola takes nothing for granted after Man City knock Plymouth out of cup
Guardiola takes nothing for granted after Man City knock Plymouth out of cup
Play Video: Slot insists there is no dip in form as Liverpool held to 2-2 draw by Aston Villa
Slot insists there is no dip in form as Liverpool held to 2-2 draw by Aston Villa
Play Video: Slot refuses to believe Premier League title is in Liverpool's hands post-Man City win
Slot refuses to believe Premier League title is in Liverpool's hands post-Man City win
Play Video: Slot impressed as Liverpool brush off nervy displays to see out Newcastle
Slot impressed as Liverpool brush off nervy displays to see out Newcastle
Play Video: Pep Guardiola previews Manchester City v Plymouth
Pep Guardiola previews Manchester City v Plymouth
Play Video: 'We'll be back': Guardiola's Terminator prediction after Man City beat Spurs 1-0
'We'll be back': Guardiola's Terminator prediction after Man City beat Spurs 1-0
Play Video: Postecoglou reacts to Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Man City
Postecoglou reacts to Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Man City
Play Video: England v Spain: Alessia Russo and Sarina Wiegman hold press conference
England v Spain: Alessia Russo and Sarina Wiegman hold press conference
Wright felt Lewis-Skelly was lucky not to have been sent off after his mistimed challenge on PSV full-back Ledezma and hopes the teen is able to sort out his indiscipline going forward.
‘He could have easily been sent off and it’s just dependent on what ref you’ve got,’ Wright added.
‘We were fortunate to have that ref because you don’t want to have the narrative to be on Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is a young player, playing in multiple positions, finding himself in different areas of the pitch.
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg
Lewis-Skelly was perhaps fortunate to have avoided his third red of the season
‘He’s going to have to be amongst bodies, he’s going to get cards.
‘But if he starts getting them then it’s going to stick with him but I just don’t want that for him.’
Wright continued: ‘Do you know something? He’s a No.8, man. You can see that all day long. I can’t wait for that to happen.’
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg
Nwaneri further proved himself to be one of the brightest young talents in Europe
Wright is looking forward to seeing how Arteta fits both Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori into his starting XI for the remainder of the season and beyond.
‘You look at what we’ve got just as a left side now, him [Calafiori] and Myles Lewis-Skelly. I’d love to see how Arteta is going to fit those two in if he can,’ he went on.
‘I don’t know know how that will work because, like I say, Myles Lewis-Skelly is probably an eight.
‘He can be six, eight, we’ve seen him do it. Will Calafiori come on the left side, he can be a left-back and they can swap if he goes?’
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg
Arteta’s men face United in the league before hosting PSV for the return leg
Wright was impressed by Arteta’s calm and composed demeanour before kick-off considering how ‘intense’ the Spaniard has looked at times in recent weeks.
‘I watched some of the build-up and Mikel was on the start of the show doing his interview,’ the former England forward said.
‘I’ve got to say, he was really, really calm and relaxed in the interview. He was really calm, really smiley, really nice.
‘I was thinking to myself: I feel really good about seeing him like that because he didn’t look as intense as we’ve seen him. He looked really calm.
‘And then the guys went and put in a performance like that. It was fantastic.’
Arsenal will look to carry their momentum over from the victory over PSV into their Premier League clash with Manchester United this weekend.
Lewis-Skelly is available again having served his one-match suspension but the contest is likely to come too soon for injured duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
0 Comments