In September 2024, Manchester United were already in eleventh place in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim.
All the way atop, the expectation was that a three-way title race between Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City was going to happen. In one of the first big games of the season, City striker Erling Haaland asked Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, “Who are you?”
Biding his time, the young Arsenal player got his revenge in the 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City five months later. Lewis-Skelly confidently collected a through ball from Declan Rice, and squeezed the ball into the back of the net past two Sky Blue players. He then proceeded to mock Haaland’s signature ‘zen’ celebration by replicating it.
It has been just over a year since that moment which defined Lewis-Skelly’s first mark in English football.
The cruel nature of football at the elite level has led to the Gunners moving away from prioritising the teenager’s development. Manager Mikel Arteta brought in Pierre Hincapie last summer, on top of Riccardo Calafiori who was already competing for the left-back spot.
Lack of Minutes at Arsenal Spells Change
Under England boss Thomas Tuchel, Lewis-Skelly made his debut for the senior national side last season. It was a dream debut capped off with a goal in a 2-0 against Albania in a World Cup qualifier. The left-back was projected to feature for England at this summer’s World Cup, but that dream now seems a distant memory.
The Englishman has only played 312 minutes of Premier League football in 2025/26, mainly featuring as a ‘cup’ player this campaign. He has featured eight times in the Champions League, yet his last league appearance was against Liverpool on 8 January.
It has led to the player’s camp sounding out talk over an exit from The Emirates. According to the Daily Mail, Lewis-Skelly has been offered to Manchester United via intermediaries ahead of the summer window.
The left-back position in one that United do need to look at over the next summer or two. Luke Shaw has lost a level of athleticism, no longer the same after injuries and age catching up to him. Patrick Dorgu was initially purchased as competition for Shaw. However, Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick both used him in an advanced left wing role. The Dane looked much more threatening there. Although, it is yet to be seen if he is drafted there upon his return from injury.
If Dorgu is used as a direct competitor to Matheus Cunha, it calls for United to bring in depth at left-back. Lewis-Skelly fits the bill for a ‘typical’ INEOS signing. However, Arsenal are well within their rights to hold out for a considerable transfer fee. The 18 year-old signed a new five year deal last summer.
Is His Future as a Midfielder?
The question begs whether left-back is actually the Arsenal teenager’s best position. His versatility and prowess on the ball has the makings of a central midfielder. At Hale End, he was used as a midfielder. Even under Arteta, he tends to invert into central areas.
In 2024, he said: “My best position is either a No 6 or No 8. I’m not too sure yet, but I’m just continuing to try my best to master both. Whatever it takes, I’m ready to play in the [No] 6 or [No] 8 role.”
In a similiar move, Jurgen Klopp once saw the same in Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool. The most recent successful example at United was Ryan Giggs, who shifted from a left winger to a central midfielder in his later years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
If anyone was to recognise that shift, it could well be former midfielder Carrick. That would however be dependent on whether he is appointed as permanent manager or not.
The prospect of imagining Lewis-Skelly and Kobbie Mainoo forming the midfield at Old Trafford feels like a hack from the Football Manager games. If executed, it could feed fans for a whole decade at club and national level.
