In a recent post-match interview, Arsenal’s captain Martin Odegaard has shed light on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s switch-out during the first half of their overwhelming 7-1 triumph over PSV in the Champions League. Odegaard, providing insights into the 35th-minute substitution by manager Mikel Arteta, praised Lewis-Skelly for his mature handling of the situation.
“He took that really well,” Odegaard admitted during his chat with BBC Sport. He further elaborated on the predicament Lewis-Skelly found himself in, being on a yellow and facing a stiff challenge. Odegaard reassured that the entire team is behind the young player, certain that this experience will serve as a valuable lesson for Lewis-Skelly.
Following the high-scoring encounter, Arteta also had words of commendation for his young players, including Ethan Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. He applauded their remarkable maturity, given their tender age of 17 and 18. Arteta attributed their impressive performance to the support and encouragement they receive from the rest of the team.
“Myles makes an assist, that’s the team that I want to see, they take initiative and they want to make things happen,” stated Arteta, expressing his expectations for a proactive team.
Arteta was further questioned about his decision to replace Lewis-Skelly with Riccardo Calafiori in the 35th minute of the match. He explained that he hadn’t witnessed the second action, but given they were 2-0 up away from home, he didn’t want to gamble.
“He is very young so we have to protect him,” Arteta justified his decision. He also expressed his delight for the team, particularly because they hadn’t scored in their previous two games.
“This is the beauty of football. Focus on what you are doing and do your best. Anything can happen,” Arteta added, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the sport.
As the excitement of their recent victory subsides, Arsenal’s attention will undoubtedly shift to their forthcoming encounters. The experiences and lessons learned by their young players, such as Lewis-Skelly, will certainly come in handy as they continue to develop under the guidance of Arteta and the support of their teammates.