Thomas Tuchel told to hand Arsenal ace Lewis-Skelly new England role after Arteta’s gamble paid off | OneFootball

Former Arsenal forward Robert Pires believes Mikel Arteta may have discovered a midfield combination that could benefit both the Gunners and England ahead of a major summer.

The Arsenal legend has been impressed by the recent rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has forced his way back into the spotlight during the closing weeks of the season.

After bursting onto the senior scene last year, the teenager struggled to maintain his place this campaign and found it difficult to break into Arteta’s first-team plans.

Despite being included in four of Thomas Tuchel’s first five England squads, Lewis-Skelly had slipped down the pecking order at club level.

That changed in Arsenal’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over Fulham, where Arteta used him in midfield rather than his usual role at left-back.

It was a surprise gamble, but it paid off. Playing alongside Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze, Lewis-Skelly produced a fantastic performance in only his third Premier League start of the season.

The same midfield trio was trusted again in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, helping the club secure a 1-0 victory and book a place in the final.

The turnaround has been remarkable for Lewis-Skelly, who had recently been linked with a surprise move to Manchester United.

He now looks to have regained the manager’s trust and forced his way back into Arteta’s plans.

Pires has since praised both the player and Arteta’s tactical decision, claiming that Lewis-Skelly has brought the fresh energy Arsenal need in midfield for their late title charge.

The Arsenal legend went on to suggest that Tuchel can use the same setup at the upcoming World Cup.

When asked if England could adopt Arsenal’s newfound midfield setup of Lewis-Skelly, Rice and Eze, Pires told talkSPORT: “Maybe, I don’t know.

“I’m not Tuchel, but even yeah, I think for the national team it should be a good idea for Tuchel. He [Lewis-Skelly] can play on the left, but I think for me it’s better when he plays in the midfield.”