MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY is still enjoying Arsenal’s stellar start — despite warming the bench most weeks.
The Gunners have won their last eight games, keeping clean sheets in seven of them — making it 11 in total this term — and conceding just three.
After a faultless October, they are the first English top-flight team ever to play six matches in a month and earn victories in them all without letting in a goal.
And it is all down to Lewis-Skelly and Co — who head to Burnley on Saturday — taking utmost pride in protecting their “house”.
Lewis-Skelly explained: “We call the Emirates ‘our house’, and nothing comes in our house, our goal. We take pride in keeping clean sheets, stopping shots and crosses.”
But, having lost his place, Lewis-Skelly has a fight on his hands to get back in the team, one that could impact his inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Bursting on to the first-team scene in September 2024, Lewis-Skelly ended last term as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back, starting 25 of Arsenal’s final 36 games.
That run led to his first senior Three Lions call-up in March, scoring on his debut against Albania.
But this campaign, he has fallen down the pecking order, starting just four matches — and none in the Prem — with Italian Riccardo Calafiori preferred instead.
After playing a starring role in Arsenal’s 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Brighton on Wednesday night — assisting Ethan Nwaneri’s opener before Bukayo Saka added No 2 — he said: “I’m enjoying it.
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“It’s a different experience for me.
“I’m not playing as much at the moment but it’s important to compete for places and I’m a competitive person, so I’m never going to back down. I enjoy the challenge.
“Being with these boys is a joy. Standards are high and everyone wants to play.
“I just want to express myself. As long as I’m doing that, I’m giving the gaffer a choice to make.”
The full-back is embracing his role as mentor to the latest schoolboy graduates — including 15-year-old Max Dowman.
Arteta handed Dowman his first senior start against the Seagulls — becoming the youngest Arsenal player to do so at 15 years and 302 days — while Andre Harriman-Annous, 17, made his first-team debut.
Lewis-Skelly said: “I want to spread my knowledge to them. Whatever they need, I am willing to help them.”
