Myles Lewis-Skelly decision explained amid Arsenal defensive injury concerns

Arsenal have been handed a potential boost ahead of the return of the Premier League this weekend with England’s decision not to play Myles Lewis-Skelly against Serbia explained.

Reports earlier on Tuesday claimed that the Arsenal left-back is the one player who will be left out of the matchday squad by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade, despite him making the journey with the squad.

The decision may have raised some concern over a potential injury after the 18-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Andorra on Saturday. However, football.london understand that there is no indication that the exclusion is because of any injury.

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Tuchel named a 24-man squad for the current international break, but UEFA rules state that only 23 can be named in a matchday squad for games. One player therefore has to be left out of the squad.

Sky Sports News reports that the decision to leave Lewis-Skelly out of the squad for the game against Serbia was both a “tactical and physical decision.” The match against Andora at Villa Park at the weekend was the first time that the full-back has completed a full match so far this season, having been named on the bench for all three of Arsenal’s games so far.

Part of the decision therefore would have been concern over pushing the player too much in terms of the minutes he plays over the international break. The fact that the England staff have taken that into consideration is good news for Arsenal.

The fact that Lewis-Skelly is rested for the midweek clash means he should be fit and raring to go should he be called upon by Arsenal for the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

It comes amid other injury concerns for Mikel Arteta. Centre-back William Saliba left the pitch in the first half of the loss against Liverpool and subsequently pulled out of the France squad due to injury, Gabriel Magalhaesis continuing his comeback from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the end of last season.

Arsenal also have a concern over the fitness of Ben White who has missed the last two games. It is said there is some hope that he could make a return against Forest.

Lewis-Skelly has found himself behind Riccrdo Calafiori in the pecking order so far this campaign. The Italian is also out on international duty but has found himself in a similar situation to his Arsenal teammate.

The defender played all 90 minutes of Italy’s 5-0 win over Estonia on Friday night at centre-back. He was then an unused substitute for the nation’s dramatic 5-4 win over Israel on Monday night.

Having both options at left-back not taking part in midweek action and therefore hopefully fully fit ahead of the return of Premier League football will be a big relief to Arteta as he prepares for the game against Forest.