Myles Lewis-Skelly must 'unlock' one area of his game to oust Riccardo Calafiori at Arsenal
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Ciaran Morrison
Thu 11 September 2025 15:09, UK
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s current exile from the Arsenal starting XI is down to one aspect of his game which Riccardo Calafiori is currently ahead in.
Calafiori has started all three of Arsenal‘s Premier League games so far despite Lewis-Skelly’s emergence for the Gunners and England in that position last season.
Lewis-Skelly was rewarded with a new Arsenal contract during the summer to extend his stay in north London until 2030, but Mikel Arteta currently prefers Calafiori at left-back.
Credit: Imago
Arteta likes his defenders to be aerially strong and dominant in their actions, and Calafiori has the edge over Lewis-Skelly as being a threat from set-pieces.
Calafiori headed home the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat Man United 1-0 on the opening weekend of the season.
Set-pieces are a favoured avenue of goals for Arteta, but in play Calafiori also likes to get forward and provide help to the attack.
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Calafiori ranks higher in a range of attacking metrics over Lewis-Skelly and as per the Daily Mail, [11 September], Arsenal assistant coach Gabriel Heinze is helping the youngster “on crossing balls into the box and how to better utilise attacking scenarios.”
StatsMyles Lewis-SkellyRiccardo CalafioriMinutes Played1,370984Goals12Assists01Chances Created86Total Shots19Attacking stats of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori in the Premier League last season as per Fotmob.
The Daily Mail also points out Calafiori ranks higher in stats like more passes into the box ands open play crosses.
Heinze “has the capacity to unlock this area” of Lewis-Skelly’s game which could be the key to forcing his way back into the Arsenal side.
It isn’t just with Arsenal that Lewis-Skelly is currently having to fight for his place, but also with England with the World Cup under a year away.
To be able to ensure he is picked for the World Cup, Lewis-Skelly needs to improve his attacking metrics or face a season on the sidelines after a campaign full of promise last time out.