Arsenal star's agent planning showdown talks with Mikel Arteta, says Ray Parlour

Arteta has not used the youngster as much as he did last season (Picture: Getty)

Myles Lewis-Skelly will be ‘disappointed’ with his season at Arsenal and will seek reassurances over his future from Mikel Arteta this summer, according to former Gunners star Ray Parlour.

After emerging from the Hale End, Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 campaign, forcing his way into the Arsenal starting XI and making his England debut – marking it with a goal against Latvia .

He made 42 club appearances in total last season, 15 of those starting roles in the Premier League , in addition to being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year. But this season has been a very different story.

While he has been a regular starter in the Champions League , the 19-year-old has started just one Premier League match this season , making just one appearance off the bench since the turn of the year. Riccardo Calafiori is Arteta’s firm first choice at left-back when fit with summer signing Piero Hincapie deputising in his absence.

While another Arsenal academy graduate in Ethan Nwaneri was able to secure a loan move away to Marseille in January, Lewis-Skelly will have to remain patient in north London.

Arsenal are still fighting on four fronts and opportunities are likely to come this this week with a trip to Brighton on Wednesday before the FA Cup fifth round clash away to Mansfield on Saturday.

But after a whirlwind 18 months for the teenager, Parlour believes there could be some difficult conversations ahead. An academy graduate himself who went onto win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, the Arsenal legend has advised the youngster to ‘work that bit harder’ to force his way back into Arteta’s plans.

Lewis-Skelly has started just one league match this season (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Nwaneri may understand things as he’s a little younger and got his loan but Lewis-Skelly will be disappointed,’ Parlour told Metro via BetMGM .

‘A lot has happened in his career very quickly. He got into the Arsenal team, played for England, scored for England all at a very young age and suddenly he’s been left out.

‘I don’t know what his attitude is like in training every day. As a youngster, you just have to get your head down. Sometimes you can get too big for you boots when it’s all going well for you. I’ve seen it happen quite a few times with players.

‘When you get left out you have to make sure you work hard in training. Make sure you show the manager what you are about.

Nwaneri joined Marseille on loan in January (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m from the outside looking in, I don’t know what they do in training or what the attitudes with players who are left is like. But what I would say is when you are left out, you are still in the manager’s plans but you have to work that bit harder. Make sure the manager sees you and that you are ready to do anything to get into that side.’

Arsenal have not considered a loan for Lewis-Skelly this season but unless his situation changes dramatically, talks over his role will surely take place this summer.

The long-term contract Lewis-Skelly signed at the Emirates last summer was negotiated by his mother and agent Marcia Lewis. Asked if conversations will take place to reassure the full-back over his future in north London, Parlour said: ‘I’m sure there will be, I’m sure he and his agent will be going to see Arteta and asking what the future looks like.