Darren Bent says Myles Lewis-Skelly has looked defensively ‘vulnerable’ this season and hopes to see the youngster come back stronger if selected against Chelsea.
Lewis-Skelly burst onto the scene last term, breaking out of Arsenal’s youth ranks to establish himself as a genuine first-team star alongside fellow academy product Ethan Nwaneri.
But the versatile 19-year-old left-back has fallen behind Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order at the Emirates in recent months, making just one solitary start in the Premier League.
Lewis-Skelly was, though, named in Arteta’s starting XI at the weekend as the Gunners came from behind to beat Portsmouth and advance through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The teenager will no doubt be desperate to continue his run in the side for the first leg of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final with bitter rivals Chelsea on Wednesday night.
It’s understood several Premier League teams have been eyeing potential loan bids for Lewis-Skelly ahead of the January transfer window – but Arsenal have no intention of letting the full-back leave this month.
Ex-England and Tottenham striker Bent has been concerned by Lewis-Skelly’s recent form and is hoping the Arsenal’s young starlet can find his feet again quickly, with his World Cup ambitions under threat.
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‘He’s had a bit more of a difficult time this season. What he did last season, everyone was like, “Wow!”,’ Bent – a lifelong fan of Arsenal – said on talkSPORT.
‘What he’s had to deal with in terms of coming back, Calafiori has been outstanding this season which is why he hasn’t got many minutes.
‘I think he’s going to play in this game [against Chelsea], potentially, but defensively, certainly against Portsmouth as well, he’s looked a bit vulnerable at times.’
One of the most divisive topics among Arsenal fans this season has been the form of marquee summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who has managed just one goal in his last ten matches in all competitions for the club.
Gyokeres’ largely anonymous performance against Liverpool – in which he touched the ball just eight times – was especially uninspiring and there are widespread calls for the Swede to be dropped for Kai Havertz.
‘I want it to work for him, I’m a big fan of his, but at the minute, for whatever reason, it’s just not clicking,’ Bent said of Gyokeres.
‘From Gyokeres’ perspective, limited touches, no efforts on goal, ball going across the six-yard box and he’s nowhere to be seen.’
Just three days after their clash with Chelsea, Arsenal return to Premier League action away to struggling Nottingham Forest, where they will look to tighten their grip on top spot.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s contest at the City Ground, Bent suggested Arsenal were no longer intimidated by the ‘physicality’ of Sean Dyche’s teams – predicting a 2-0 win for Arteta’s men.
He said: ‘I look at this Arsenal team now and there was a time, certainly when Dyche was at Everton, I’d be a bit like, “Have we got the characters and leaders to step up to that?”
‘I look at this Arsenal squad now and I feel there are quite a few players that are good in size, good in stature, are prepared to do the physical, hard yards.
‘I don’t think the physicality worries me as much as it once did.’
Should Arsenal let Lewis-Skelly leave on loan this month?
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Yes
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No
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