Arsenal are determined to keep hold of rising star Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite growing interest from Manchester United. The 19-year-old Hale End graduate has caught the eye with his versatility, capable of playing both left-back and defensive midfield—two positions the Red Devils are desperate to strengthen.

Manchester United's need for defensive reinforcements is no secret. While much of the talk has centered on midfield, the left-back spot is arguably an even more pressing concern. Luke Shaw, despite approaching a personal milestone, has an injury record that makes him unreliable for a full season. Tyrell Malacia is expected to leave when his contract expires this summer, and Patrick Dorgu is likely to be deployed in a more advanced role. That leaves INEOS searching for Shaw's long-term successor.

Lewis-Skelly seemed like a perfect fit—a young, homegrown talent who could solve two problems at once. Given United's mixed history with signings from Arsenal, it would have been surprising not to see them try. And with limited first-team opportunities early this season, the England U21 international was reportedly open to a move away from the Emirates.

But Mikel Arteta has other ideas. The Arsenal boss has increasingly turned to Lewis-Skelly in crucial moments, starting him in the Champions League semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid and in three of the last five Premier League matches. According to reliable source Sully, the Gunners are now confident of keeping their young star. "The last I heard is that Arsenal are confident in keeping him and Arteta wants to keep him," Sully wrote on X.

United have also been linked with Newcastle's Lewis Hall, but it remains to be seen whether the Magpies would let him leave. For now, the hunt for a left-back looks far from straightforward—and Arsenal's stance on Lewis-Skelly only makes it tougher.