Report: Mikel Arteta has been trying to change one Arsenal youngster's position behind the scenes

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta seems to have a special plan for one of his youngsters.

The Gunners have taken a number of academy players on their pre-season tour to the United States. Many of them have been given opportunities already.

Ethan Nwaneri has arguably been the star of the show in pre-season so far, but there are a few others who have caught our eye.

Arteta seems to be impressed with one player too. Here’s what’s happening with him behind the scenes at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s plan for Myles Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal

Along with Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly is arguably the most exciting talent at Arsenal.

The 17-year-old is a defensive midfielder by trade, and he has been impressing a lot in the academy sides over the last year or so.

Lewis-Skelly has often been spotted in Arsenal’s first-team training sessions as well, where he has had the opportunity to work with Arteta.

The teenager played against both Bournemouth and Manchester United in Arsenal’s pre-season tour, and he has been really impressive.

The interesting thing about Lewis-Skelly in those two fixtures has been his position. Despite naturally being a midfielder, Arteta has deployed him as a full-back.

The Daily Mail have revealed that ‘behind the scenes, Arteta has been moulding Lewis-Skelly into an inverted left-back’ ahead of the start of the new season.

The report adds that if players in Arsenal’s backline suffer injuries in the 2024/25 season, ‘Lewis-Skelly will be in contention for a spot, either on the bench or in the starting XI.’

What Jack Wilshere has already said about Lewis-Skelly playing at left-back

Lewis-Skelly has trained a lot under Jack Wilshere at Arsenal, and the former Gunner knows his qualities very well – in midfield as well as at left-back.

The teenager is excellent on the ball and has the ability to drive forward in possession, but what makes him a good defender is his ability in duels. His tackling is brilliant.

That’s probably why Arteta is working on using Lewis-Skelly at left-back. He offers defensive solidity as well as quality in the middle of the park when he inverts.

However, while addressing Lewis-Skelly’s long-term position, Wilshere was adamant that the youngster’s future lies in the middle of the park.

Wilshere told The Athletic in April 2023: “I don’t think he’ll be a left-back; he’ll be a midfielder. But if we give him a little bit of everything, (it will help).

“It’s important for him. You look at our first team and the way football’s going with players like Oleksandr Zinchenko, the full-back has to be able to play inside.”