Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is steadfast in his belief that teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly will not be leaving the club anytime soon, even with several Premier League clubs circling.
This summer has seen Chelsea making an official approach for the 19-year-old, while Manchester United has long admired the versatile young talent. However, Arteta has made it clear there is no doubt about Lewis-Skelly's future at the Gunners.
When directly asked if he expects the young player to still be an Arsenal player after the transfer window closes, Arteta responded succinctly:
“100 percent.”
The coach also faced questions regarding tougher decisions concerning some players' futures. There have been reports linking Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Ethan Nwaneri with potential moves away from North London.
“This is really, really difficult. We need to face this reality. But you have to approach it with real honesty and transparency. When you’re on the other side, that’s precisely what you need,” Arteta explained.
Arteta emphasised the importance of having honest conversations with his squad, even if these discussions are uncomfortable.
“You may not like what you are told, but if it’s the truth, if it’s reality and honesty, and it helps you make better decisions and gain more clarity for the next step in your career, then you have to do it. These are always difficult conversations, but they are necessary,” the Spaniard added.
He stressed that while the club must exercise respect for players when letting them go, tough footballing decisions still have to be made.
“We all know that everything has a beginning and an end. When it comes to an end, our job and our duty is to make that process as smooth as possible, with respect and admiration for the player and our relationship. Ultimately, though, we need to make the hard decisions. Without going into specifics, that’s what we are working on with each individual,” Arteta stated.
In conclusion, Mikel Arteta highlighted the significance of squad depth as Arsenal aims to compete for silverware this season.
“I want the squad to be as deep as it can be, because we know what we’re fighting for, and we are learning lessons from the past. Especially from last year when we faced injuries in two or three areas of the pitch. The deeper our squad is, the better. But players need to feel valued and important,” Arteta summarised.
