Arsenal finished the 2024/25 campaign without any silverware. They finished second in the Premier League for the third consecutive time and were knocked out by PSG in the Champions League semifinals.
However, one of the biggest positives for the Gunners this season was the rise of their academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 18-year-old was one of the key players for Mikel Arteta, featuring in 38 games, scoring a goal and providing three assists.
Lewis-Skelly showed composure beyond his years and was one of the fan favourites. His performances were lauded by fans and pundits alike, and he also received his first England call-up in March.
He scored against Albania on his international debut and became the youngest England player to score on his senior debut. The youngster signed his first professional contract back in 2023, a contract which expires in 2026.
Therefore, Arsenal have initiated talks with Lewis-Skelly’s representatives. However, a report from The Guardian suggests that the contract talks between the two parties haven’t gone well.
This entire situation has reportedly put Real Madrid on red alert. The Spanish giants are big admirers of the teenager, and they potentially believe this is another situation where they can lure him away for free.
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What did Mikel Arteta say about the young fullback?
Despite starting his career as a midfielder, Lewis-Skelly was exceptional at left-back after he broke into the Arsenal senior team. However, Arteta does see him as a midfield option in the future and believes he has the ingredients to succeed.
“He is very intelligent, very willing and very physical. If you have those three ingredients and you have a personality that can go through blips — it can happen — that is Myles. That is what he has done,” Arteta said in a press conference.
“He can do as a 6 and an 8. It will depend a lot on the relationships and the chemistry with other players, how this evolves within the team.
“And football, which direction it goes , what demands of certain positions as well. He is certainly a player that can play in a lot of positions.”
However, now it remains to be seen which direction the player chooses for his development. Arsenal are facing immense pressure to tie him down with a new contract, or the could risk losing one of their brightest prospects.
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