‘Need to face reality’ – Arteta delivers honest message to Arsenal fringe players

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The Football Faithful

·20 August 2026

‘Need to face reality’ – Arteta delivers honest message to Arsenal fringe players

Mikel Arteta says that some of his Arsenal squad “need to face that reality” that their futures lie elsewhere, but expects Myles Lewis-Skelly to stay at the club.

The midfielder, who can also play at full-back, has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Manchester United this summer.

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But Arteta does not foresee the 19-year-old leaving the Gunners before Deadline Day on on 1st September.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal‘s Premier League opener at Coventry City, the Basque native said he was “100 per cent” confident that Lewis-Skelly would remain at the north London outfit.

Arteta delivers honest message to Arsenal fringe players

Tough conversations will need to be had with other members of the Arsenal squad, however. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri have all been heavily linked with transfers this summer.

“It’s a really, really tough moment. We need to face that reality,” said Arteta.

“But you have to face it with a real honesty and transparency. When you’re on the other side, it’s exactly what you need.

“You might not like what you’ve been told, but if it’s truthful, if it’s the reality and honest and make you make better decisions and have more clarity for the next step in your career, you have to do that. These are always difficult conversations. But they need to be done.

“Without talking any specifics, it is something we are working on with every individual. I want to have the squad as big as possible because we know what we’re fighting for, we learn again from the past. Especially last year when we had injuries in two or three areas of the pitch.

“The deeper squad we have, the better. But the players have to feel valued and feel important.”

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