Mikel Arteta admitted “sometimes it’s form, sometimes it’s the fact we want to do certain things” when asked about the reduced minutes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri so far this season.
Lewis-Skelly’s rapid emergence was one of the major talking points of last season, with the 19-year-old establishing himself as the club’s first-choice left back in addition to breaking into the England squad.
Nwaneri’s stock has been high for a couple of years, with great things expected of him after some standout showings in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
But Lewis-Skelly has had a watching brief for most of this Premier League season, falling behind Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order, while Nwaneri continues to compete for minutes against Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard having also seen Eberechi Eze, who can play as a No. 10 or out wide, and Noni Madueke also join Arsenal’s attacking ranks.
Asked ahead of Saturday’s game with West Ham United about whether Arsenal’s strength in depth was the reason for others being preferred, Arteta said of the pair: “I don't know, but I don't work with expectations. I work with what the boys can provide in the context that the team is playing in that moment. And Ethan has played two games in the Premier League very early because of an injury of Martin as well. He played in other competitions, and he will play more.
“With Myles, it's the same. Sometimes it's form, sometimes it's the fact that we want to do certain things in relation to the opposition. And that's it. What I want is that they are in the state that they have to be used. And when they are playing, whether it is to start games or for a few minutes, they are fully ready. And both of them, they've been really good at that.”
