Mikel Arteta insists he hopes Myles Lewis-Skelly will retain his place in future England squads after the Arsenal star received a warning from Thomas Tuchel.

The Three Lions boss named his squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Latvia on Friday.

Tuchel omitted a trio of star names in Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish, but there was a place for teenager Lewis-Skelly.

The Gunners’ left-back made a sensational breakthrough last season for both club and country, but the return to full fitness of Riccardo Calafiori has seen him drop down Arteta’s pecking order.

Tuchel sounded a not of caution yesterday, suggesting it could become a ‘problem’ for Lewis-Skelly should he continue to struggle for minutes.

‘Maybe it becomes a problem for him, yeah,’ Tuchel said when asked about Lewis-Skelly’s lack of starts for Arsenal this season. ‘To just be a good citizen in camp will not be enough over the course of a year.

‘He was a very good player in camp, a very good team-mate in camp (last month). But being a good team-mate in camp may not be good enough to stay the whole year with us.

‘You have to perform at club level on a regular basis. In the last camp he got the credit, that I was convinced we have to take care of him and nominate him because we accelerated his career. It was our responsibility after we called him last season. So we stick to this.’

The Hale End Academy graduate did start and impressed in the midweek win over Monaco but is likely to return to the bench for Saturday’s Premier League game against West Ham.

Responding to Tuchel’s message to one of his most promising young players, Arteta joked: ‘Thanks Thomas!

‘Hopefully he plays a lot and he plays at the level he’s been playing with us. Hopefully he can enjoy the national team and enjoy the World Cup.

‘I want the best for my players and having the chance to play in a World Cup is something I don’t want to take out from anybody that’s for sure.’

Ethan Nwaneri has also struggled for game time this season after signing a new long-term contract in the summer.

The gifted midfielder was left out of the matchday squad for last weekend’s game at Newcastle and failed to get off the bench against Monaco.

‘I work with what the boys can provide in the context that the team is playing in at the moment,’ added Arteta.

‘Ethan has played two games in the Premier League very early because of an injury to Martin as well. He played in other competitions and he will play more.

‘With Myles, it’s the same, but sometimes it’s form, sometimes it’s the fact that we want to do certain things in relation to the position and that’s it.

‘What I want is for them to be in the state that they are in. They have to be used and when they are playing, whether it is to a starter game or for a few minutes, they are fully ready and both of them have been really good at that.’

Thomas Tuchel has named four Arsenal stars in his latest England squad (Photo: Getty)

Thomas Tuchel has warned Myles Lewis-Skelly that he won’t be picked for England in the future if he does not start for Arsenal.

The German head co…

Thomas Tuchel has named four Arsenal stars in his latest England squad (Photo: Getty)

Thomas Tuchel has warned Myles Lewis-Skelly that he won’t be picked for England in the future if he does not start for Arsenal.

The German head co…

Rio Ferdinand says he ‘can’t believe’ Mikel Arteta has dropped Myles Lewis-Skelly following his impressive breakout season at Arsenal.

Lewis-Skelly only made his Arsenal debut last September but ended the 2024-25 campaign as one of the most important players in Arteta’s squad.

The 19-year-old, who can play as a left-back or in midfield, helped Arsenal challenge for the Premier League title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

His performances in the quarter-final victory over Real Madrid were particularly impressive, with Jamie Carragher comparing the teenager to Wayne Rooney after the first leg.

Carragher and fellow pundit Gary Neville both named Lewis-Skelly as their Young Player of the Season following his exploits in north London, which culminated in his first England appearance in March.

Lewis-Skelly would have been hoping to build on his sensational breakout season this term but is yet to start any of Arsenal’s six league games.

Riccardo Calafiori has been preferred in the left-back position, with Lewis-Skelly’s four league appearances so far this season coming from the bench.

Ferdinand ‘can’t believe’ Lewis-Skelly is struggling for game-time at Arsenal and has questioned Arteta’s treatment of the young England star.

‘Do you know the thing I find mad about Arsenal?’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘What’s Lewis-Skelly done? What he’s done?

‘He came on [as an 88th-minute substitute] late yesterday [in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United]. Listen, the replacement is an Italian international [Calafiori] and a good player, don’t get me wrong. I like him.

‘But sometimes you have to do something wrong to get out of the team, surely? Or has Lewis-Skelly just played a lot of football as a young kid so they’re giving him a breather? I would love to know what’s happened.’

Asked if Calafiori was a more ‘complete player’ than Lewis-Skelly at this early stage of his career, Ferdinand added: ‘No way. No way.

‘Lewis-Skelly is better on the ball in midfield and I didn’t see him get beat defensively last season except when he got a couple of red cards.

‘I watched him in big games last season and he looked so unfazed, it was a joke. I can’t believe he’s not in the team.

‘It’s probably because Calafiori is bigger and better defensively in the air. But Lewis-Skelly can defend too but also looks great on the ball.’

Lewis-Skelly’s latest cameo came in the dying minutes of Arsenal’s thrilling comeback victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

A first-half header from club-record signing Nick Woltemade put Newcastle in front but Arsenal scored twice in the final ten minutes to clinch a huge victory.

Mikel Merino came off the bench to glance home an equaliser before Gabriel’s injury-time header completed Arsenal’s late and impressive comeback.

The dramatic victory leaves Arsenal second in the Premier League after six games, two points behind defending champions and early pacesetters Liverpool.

Speaking after the win, Arteta said: ‘I feel pride. I think we fully deserved the win after the way we played, performed and competed.

‘With the chances we generated, we deserved to win even if we did it in a dramatic way.

‘That’s how you get to a different level, by going through those moments and taking lessons from it.

‘It was a massive opportunity to show who we are because they are a terrific team and they are so difficult to play against. The level of consistency and quality we showed was top.

‘We want to achieve the next level and to do that you have to come to these places and you have to win. You have to find a way to do it. It was tremendous.’

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He didn’t even make it off the bench against Liverpool.

Arsenal fans sweating on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest need not worry despite the teenager missing England’s game against Serbia.

The Three Lions continued their flawless start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a thumping 5-0 win in Belgrade.

Having played the full 90 minutes against Andorra three days earlier, Lewis-Skelly was a surprise omission from Thomas Tuchel’s matchday squad with Tino Livramento playing the full 90 minutes at left-back.

According to Sky Sports news, however, Tuchel’s decision was both a ‘tactical and physical’ one with Lewis-Skelly having been used sparingly by Mikel Arteta this season.

After his breakthrough campaign, the Hale End Academy graduate has started on the bench in Arsenal’s first three games of the new season with Riccardo Calafiori now back at full fitness.

Harry Kane, meanwhile, believes England’s statement victory over Serbia can be the starting point for World Cup glory.

The Euro 2024 runners-up lit the blue touch paper to Thomas Tuchel’s reign with a night to remember in Belgrade, with goals from Kane, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford firing them to within touching distance of qualification for next summer’s tournament in North America.

While England had won all four previous qualifying games under Tuchel, it had generally been underwhelming, especially as they laboured to 1-0 and 2-0 wins over minnows Andorra.

But everything came together in a match which was supposed to represent their toughest mission of the qualifying campaign and got Kane excited.

‘That is almost as good as it gets, just the manner and what it meant for the group if we didn’t win,’ he said.

‘Coming to a real hostile place and playing like that, clean sheet, five goals, rarely under threat. Credit to the boys, we made that game look easy.

‘We can use it as a template for many more performances like that.

‘Everyone knew it was going to be a tough game and inside the walls we created a togetherness and it’s us against whoever we play, wherever we play.

‘It’s been a great week, the energy has been high, the motivation has been high.

‘The togetherness is starting to come and nights like this will only help, building up to the summer.’

Thomas Tuchel has axed one player from his England squad to face Serbia (Picture: Getty)

Myles Lewis-Skelly will play no part in England’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia tonight after he was cut from Thomas Tuchel’s matchda…

‘Whatever he wants to do, he can do.’

Myles Lewis-Skelly has endorsed Arsenal’s transfer move (Picture: Getty)

Myles Lewis-Skelly has suggested Chelsea have made a mistake selling Noni Madueke to Arsenal.

Arsenal completed a somewhat surprising move for Madueke earlier …

Myles Lewis-Skelly has endorsed Arsenal’s transfer move (Picture: Getty)

Myles Lewis-Skelly has suggested Chelsea have made a mistake selling Noni Madueke to Arsenal.

Arsenal completed a somewhat surprising move for Madueke earlier …

The Gunners are on the cusp of a total agreement.

Myles Lewis-Skelly caught the attention of Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)

Myles Lewis-Skelly has agreed a new long-term contract with Arsenal after being the subject of a transfer approach from Real Madrid.

The 18-year-old was yet to make h…

Myles Lewis-Skelly is out of contract at Arsenal next season (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal remain ‘very calm’ in the wake of Real Madrid’s interest in Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Hale End Academy graduate enjoyed a stellar breakt…

He’s entered the last 12 months of his contract.

‘It’s incredible what he’s doing.’

The Prime Minister is hopeful his team will win the Champions League.

‘Nobody can ever question him.’

Arsenal knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand was blown away by the performances of two Arsenal stars after the impressive Champions League victory over Real Madrid.

Arsenal booked their place in t…

The defender went unpunished.

The youngster passed another huge test against 15-time European champions Real Madrid.

‘He played with no fear.’