Two reasons Arsenal star Lewis-Skelly decided to reject Man Utd revealed after Arteta intervention

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·8 September 2026

Two reasons Arsenal star Lewis-Skelly decided to reject Man Utd revealed after Arteta intervention

According to reports, two reasons were behind Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly’s decision to ‘reject’ a summer move to Manchester United.

Lewis-Skelly is regarded as one of the Premier League’s best young players, but he was heavily linked with an exit from Arsenal in the summer.

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The versatile 19-year-old slipped in the Arsenal pecking order last season, but he played an important role for his boyhood club during the run-in after replacing Martin Zubimendi in midfield.

But with Arsenal signing Bruno Guimaraes and favouring Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, there were fears that Lewis-Skelly could leave in the summer.

Lewis-Skelly attracted interest from Man Utd, who considered him an alternative to Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall, and he would also have eased Michael Carrick’s midfield issues.

Ultimately, though, Man Utd did not sign Lewis-Skelly, who has played a key role for Arsenal at the start of this season as one of their standout performers.

Arsenal will not be really glad that they did not sell Lewis-Skelly, and The Sun has now revealed that a ‘secret conversation’ with head coach Arteta led to him staying.

It is noted that Lewis-Skelly was ‘seriously considering his options’ to leave Arsenal in the summer, but he was eventually won over by Arteta.

The report claims Arteta ‘was determined to keep’ Lewis-Skelly, and he ‘made it clear from the onset to the youngster’s family and representatives that he wanted him at the club this season’.

Mikel Arteta ‘tweak’ wins over Arsenal

The same report claims Arteta’s willingness to ‘tweak his system’ to get the best out of Arteta was another reason behind Lewis-Skelly’s decision to remain at Arsenal.

They explain:

‘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. ‘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.’