Former Arsenal star Robert Pires has hailed Mikel Arteta's tactical masterstroke, suggesting that the Gunners boss may have unlocked a midfield formula that could pay dividends for both Arsenal and England on the biggest stages.
The 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly has been the talk of North London after a stunning resurgence in recent weeks. After bursting onto the scene last season, the talented teenager found himself struggling for game time, watching from the sidelines as opportunities dried up. Despite earning call-ups to four of Thomas Tuchel's first five England squads, his club minutes had become scarce—until Arteta rolled the dice.
In Arsenal's emphatic 3-0 victory over Fulham, the manager made a bold decision: deploying Lewis-Skelly in midfield instead of his usual left-back berth. It was a gamble that paid off handsomely. Alongside Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze, the youngster delivered a man-of-the-match performance in what was only his third Premier League start of the campaign.
Arteta trusted the same midfield trio in Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, and they repaid him with a gritty 1-0 win that punched the club's ticket to the final. The turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable for a player who had recently been linked with a shock move to Manchester United.
Pires, an Arsenal legend, has been quick to praise both the player and the manager's tactical vision. "Lewis-Skelly brings the fresh energy Arsenal need in midfield for their late title charge," the Frenchman noted. He even suggested that Tuchel could replicate the setup for England at the upcoming World Cup.
"Maybe, I don't know. I'm not Tuchel, but even yeah, I think for the national team it should be a good idea," Pires told talkSPORT. "He can play on the left, but I think for me it's better when he plays in the midfield."
With Lewis-Skelly now firmly back in Arteta's plans, Arsenal fans have every reason to believe their midfield diamond could shine brightest when it matters most—both in the Premier League title race and on the international stage this summer.