MIKEL ARTETA has worked his managerial magic again by tweaking Arsenal’s system and finding the perfect role for Manchester United and Chelsea target Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Arsenal academy product was on the market this summer with both Manchester United and Chelsea showing interest in the teenager.
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SunSport sources say the 19-year-old who started both Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid and the final against Paris Saint-Germain was seriously considering his options.
But Lewis-Skelly is a player Arteta was determined to keep and the Arsenal boss made it clear from the onset to the youngster’s family and representatives that he wanted him at the club this season.
Arteta even told a press conference that he was “100 per cent certain” his daring 19-year-old would remain at Arsenal.
And one of the ways he helped convince Lewis-Skelly that there was a major role for him at the Emirates was by tweaking his system, something he told him during their talks in the summer- sources have said.
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Throughout last season, the Gunners largely operated in a 4-3-3, with Declan Rice supported by Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze or Martin Odegaard depending on the game.
But this season Arteta has switched to a 4-2-3-1, and it has allowed Lewis-Skelly to thrive alongside Rice at the base of midfield.
Immediately in front of them is captain Odegaard in the No10 role he loves with Bukayo Saka and Christian Tzolis providing the width and Kai Havertz leading the line.
Lewis-Skelly impressed against Manchester City and then followed it up against Coventry, giving him a clear indication that there was a pathway to regular first-team football and a major role to play this season.
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The arrival of Bruno Guimaraes was obviously something that had to be considered but well-placed sources say Arteta also held conversations with Lewis-Skelly and highlighted the one quality he possesses that few of his other midfielders can match, versatility.
Lewis-Skelly can play at left-back, on the left wing and as a left-sided midfielder, giving Arteta options that few others in his squad can provide.
So while Guimaraes did arrive, SunSport sources say the Brazilian is viewed as more of a competitor for the likes of Odegaard and Eze than a direct threat to Lewis-Skelly.
In the end, the youngster was shown that rather than leave Arsenal in search of first-team football elsewhere, he was better off staying with a club that had already demonstrated there was a pathway for him to develop and fulfil his enormous potential.
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And for all the summer arrivals at the Emirates, there is a feeling inside the club that retaining Lewis-Skelly was one of the biggest wins of the window.
The teenager is already showing why. He has started every game since the Community Shield and, to add to his credit, the new system has also helped bring back the swagger and spark of captain Odegaard.
Well-placed SunSport sources say Arteta is particularly delighted with the starts made by both Lewis-Skelly and Odegaard.
The Norwegian has begun the campaign like a house on fire, with three goals already this season compared with just one throughout the whole of last term.
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Odegaard remains hugely popular for the way he leads the Arsenal team but there was frustration over his performances last season.
The fact he is now playing with confidence and finding the net is something that has gone down extremely well at the Emirates.
Arteta has, however, stressed that for a team like Arsenal, competition brings the best out of everyone.
And he is expected to make changes for Champions League games for a number of reasons, including giving fringe players valuable minutes and creating competition for those fighting their way back into the Premier League starting XI.
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But unlike last season, when the Gunners were largely committed to a 4-3-3, this campaign will see Arteta lean more heavily on a 4-2-3-1.
And don’t be surprised to see Lewis-Skelly starting more and more games as Arsenal’s season progresses.