Alan Smith has controversially suggested that Arsenal should consider selling talented young full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly this summer.
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.
The 19-year-old made 39 appearances in all competitions last season, and saw his fine form rewarded with a new, long-term contract to keep him at the club until 2030.
Despite that promising breakthrough season, Lewis-Skelly has found regular minutes harder to come by this season, with the teenager falling behind Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order.
Lewis-Skelly has made just one solitary league start so far this campaign, although he did start in the Gunners’ midweek Champions League victory over Inter at San Siro.
Despite his lack of game time, Arsenal are said to have rebuffed loan interest from several other Premier League clubs in the January transfer window.
But former Gunners striker Smith believes that the club might be wise to cash in on Lewis-Skelly in the summer after seeing the teenager ‘struggle’ in recent starts.
Get your football fix
Don't want to miss the week's biggest football stories? Metro's exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.
Sign up here, it's an open goal.
‘He is just not good enough defensively,’ Smith told BestBettingSites.co.uk when asked about Lewis-Skelly.
‘He’s been brought up as a midfielder, and when he’s had 1v1s, he has struggled, for example, when Frimpong was up against him in the Liverpool game, because he’s not the quickest either, and he’s not a natural defender.
‘He’s got three players in front of him who can all defend better. So, looking forward to the summer, I think it might be a case of selling him, for PSR and all that, being a youth team player, it’s pure profit.
‘So, unfortunately, I think he might have to leave the club.’
Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, said he is keen to stake his claim for more regular minutes after his start against Inter on Tuesday.
‘I think every time I get the chance to start, I see it as an opportunity,’ the teenager told Amazon Prime.
‘Even when I come on, for me, it’s just impacting the game and helping the team out in any way I can. And I’m glad I was able to help out today.
‘All I can do is control the controllables. And every time I get the opportunity to play, as a team, the depth that we have as a squad is really strong.
‘We all have that mentality that when we come in, we’ve got to do the job. I think that’s how we carry ourselves. It’s so special [the spirit in the dressing room], so special.
‘Honestly, this has been amazing [being] part of the team, and just the energy and everything like that, the harmony. It’s really special to be a part of.’
Arsenal return to league action at the weekend as they host Michael Carrick’s Manchester Untied at the Emirates.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
