Myles Lewis-Skelly was the subject of heavy transfer speculation this summer but ultimately opted to remain at his boyhood club Arsenal.

Lewis-Skelly endured a mixed season last time out, largely sitting on the bench as Mikel Arteta preferred other options at left-back and central midfielder.

However, the teanager broke back into the team at the business end of the season, becoming the second-youngest Englishman to start a Champions League final when the Gunners lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

Despite that positive end to the season, the big-money signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United this summer raised questions about whether Lewis-Skelly would see his minutes curtailed once again.

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And those questions led to speculation over Lewis-Skelly’s future, with reports suggesting that Manchester United and Chelsea were both offered the chance to sign the 19-year-old.

Lewis-Skelly was viewed as an attractive prospect for United, who could have used his versatility to add depthat left-back and central midfield.

But ultimately, both United and Chelsea turned down the chance to sign Lewis-Skelly, who has since started Arsenal’s first three games of the Premier League campaign.

It was widely reported that Lewis-Skelly was not keen to leave his boyhood club this summer, espeically having signed a new long-term contract just a year ago.

And The Sun now reports that key conversations with Arsenal boss Arteta were part of the reason why the Englishman decided to stay at the Emirates.

Arteta conveyed his desire to keep Lewis-Skelly to the player’s family and representatives, while also suggesting he would tweak Arsenal’s style to allow Lewis-Skelly to play alongside Declan Rice as more of a midfield two.

Speaking before the end of the transfer window on Lewis-Skelly’s future, Arteta said: ‘The players that have been raised in our [academy] system and they feel that love and connection with the club, it brings something else. There is no question about that.

‘We need to look after them in a very special way because they bring value that is very difficult to [find].

‘That’s why, when we can, we have to protect those assets as much as possible, develop them, and make them very important for the club.’

Lewis-Skelly will still face intense competition for minutes, with Martin Zubimendi and Guimaraes both on the bench for Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend.

Guimaraes made his first Arsenal start alongside Lewis-Skelly in the Community Shield, but has played just 19 minutes since then after sustaining a knock.

The Brazilian could return to the starting lineup on Wednesday when the Gunners get their Champions League campaign underway with a visit to Napoli.

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