Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury was the only negative in what was an otherwise very good pre-season for Arsenal.
The Gunners only won one game in their tour of the United States – against Manchester United – but there were still many positive signs.
On their return to North London, Mikel Arteta’s men smashed four past German champions Bayer Leverkusen and picked up a comfortable win over Lyon in the Emirates Cup.
Tomiyasu, sadly, missed all of the games and he’s still not back fit.
Mikel Arteta to promote Myles Lewis-Skelly to Arsenal first-team after Takehiro Tomiyasu blow
Arsenal have had issues at left-back over the course of the summer.
Tomiyasu has been out injured, Jurrien Timber has had a foot issue recently and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s future seemed to be up in the air at one point.
New signing Riccardo Calafiori was only available as a substitute in Arsenal’s final pre-season game against Lyon at the Emirates.
Arteta had to do something and he chose to deploy young Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back on multiple occasions.
The 17-year-old, who is naturally a defensive midfielder, was outstanding at left-back and impressed everyone with his performances in the United States.
Arteta has been working to change Lewis-Skelly’s position behind the scenes, and it looks like the youngster has done enough to earn his manager’s trust.
Football Transfers reveal that Arteta is all set to promote Lewis-Skelly to Arsenal’s first team and give him regular opportunities in the upcoming campaign.
Tomiyasu’s injury has opened the door for the youngster, and it will be interesting to see how much game time he will get in the upcoming campaign.
Arteta is now spoilt for choices at left-back
Arsenal’s left-back situation has gone from being a worrying position to a very promising one.
Lewis-Skelly’s emergence is fantastic, while new signing Calafiori has the ability to become an absolute star in that position as well.
To add to that, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been playing like a man with a point to prove, and he was brilliant against both Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon.
Arsenal would also have Timber and Tomiyasu to play in that role, while Jakub Kiwior is still at the club and has played in that position before.
Arteta is now spoilt for choices at left-back, and that is a good headache to have.
