'I'm a midfielder' — Lewis-Skelly settles Arsenal position debate

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Myles Lewis-Skelly has given a clear answer to the question that has followed him since he broke into Mikel Arteta's first team: he sees himself as a midfielder, not a left-back.

Speaking about his best role, the academy graduate said, via Football365: "I'm a midfielder. But at the end of the day it's all down to the team needs. No player, no individual is bigger than the team goal. Whatever has to help the team, I'll do it."

From academy midfielder to England left-back

Lewis-Skelly came through Arsenal's youth ranks as a midfielder, but his route into the senior side came at left-back — and he took to it well enough to earn a starting role with the England national team.

That period also brought him Champions League nights against opposition of the calibre of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, a considerable step up for a player still finding his feet in senior football.

The picture changed as Arteta continued to add to his defensive options. With Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie both in the squad, regular minutes at left-back became harder to come by.

A midfield return — and more competition

There were suggestions earlier this year that a loan move might serve him better, giving him the game time to push his case for a place in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup. He stayed at the Emirates instead.

Towards the end of last season, he broke into the Arsenal midfield, and he has continued to feature in that area even after the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes — a signing that added yet another established name to an already crowded department.

That is the balance Lewis-Skelly is now managing. His versatility has kept him involved across two very different roles, but it has also meant competing with senior internationals in both.

His comments suggest he is not about to force the issue publicly. The emphasis on "team needs" reflects the way he has been used since his breakthrough, shifting between the left flank and central areas depending on what Arteta's side has required on any given week.

What it means going forward

For a player who is still young and has already banked significant experience at club and international level, the flexibility has clear value. Few players in the squad can credibly cover a full-back berth and a central midfield role to the standard he has shown.

The trade-off is the one every utility player faces: minutes spread across positions rather than a settled run in one. With his midfield opportunities increasing, the role he describes as his own may become a bigger part of his day-to-day at the club.

Arteta's selections over the coming months will determine whether Lewis-Skelly settles into the middle of the pitch permanently or continues to be deployed wherever the team requires him.