A surprising new update from Football Transfers suggests Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is planning a major tactical shake-up. This move could permanently change Myles Lewis-Skelly’s path at the Emirates. The Hale End graduate has looked sharp as an inverted left-back.
Myles Lewis-Skelly Set for Midfield Shift as Arteta Targets Marc Guehi in Defensive Overhaul
Even so, the above report says the Spanish boss thinks he belongs in central midfield in the long term. This position switch seems tied to Arsenal’s sudden interest in Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi. The club reportedly see Guehi as a talent too good to pass up.
The actual logistics of this defensive rebuild are interesting. Arteta seems to want a squad with two top-tier specialists for every spot in the backline. Under this new plan, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori would compete for the starting left-back role. That would leave Lewis-Skelly free to move out of the defence entirely.
The setup then puts Jurrien Timber and Ben White together as the right-back options, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes stay as the clear first-choice starters. Bringing in Guehi would then strengthen the bench. The England star would likely partner Cristhian Mosquera to create a high-quality backup pair.
Is This the Right Call for Arsenal?
Moving Lewis-Skelly into the midfield feels like a natural step forward. The 19-year-old shows he can run the game from deep, as seen at the youth level. Furthermore, when he has featured at left-back lately, he has often drifted into the middle to help keep the ball moving.
Arteta clearly wants players who are calm on the ball in midfield. Lewis-Skelly has the tight control and passing range to do well there. Pushing the Englishman forward will let Arsenal use his vision without forcing a teenager to deal with the defensive stress of playing full-back.
However, pursuing Marc Guehi as a backup raises some fair points about where Arsenal spend their money. Guehi could start for almost any team in the Premier League. Convincing the Crystal Palace defender to sit behind Gabriel and Saliba might be a tough sell. Still, if the Gunners want to win every trophy, they need to stack the squad with talent.
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Manchester City have shown that you need world-class defenders on the bench, and Arteta clearly wants that same depth. If the Gunners can sign Guehi, especially if they get a reasonable price because of his contract, it shows they mean business. The move makes the defence solid and will finally let Lewis-Skelly show what he can really do in midfield.
