Arsenal boast two of the best teenage footballers in the Premier League in Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Both have broken into the Arsenal first-team this season and have impressed at the highest level, both in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
However, Lewis-Skelly’s discipline has been called into question after a number of lapses which have cost him and his team in recent months.
The 18-year-old was recently sent off against West Ham United and also received a red card against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was rescinded.
Lewis-Skelly also risked picking up a red card in Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 first-leg trip to PSV Eindhoven.
He was booked in the 24th minute for pulling back Luuk de Jong, and just minutes later tripped Richard Ledezma down the PSV right.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano opted not to send Lewis-Skelly off, but Mikel Arteta wasn’t willing to risk it as he subbed the youngster off on 34 minutes.
Arteta, speaking to the press ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United, shared how he can ‘strike the right balance’ between discipline and tenacity.
READ MORE: What could happen with Ethan Nwaneri when Bukayo Saka returns to fitness for Arsenal
Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly told he needs to ‘control the situation’ and ‘dominate’ proceedings
Arteta, speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, was asked how he could control Lewis-Skelly’s physicality and tenacity without taking anything away from his game.
“I think dominating the situation, that’s it,” Arteta replied, as per football.london. “Control the situation. You need to dominate.
“What space are you defending? What is the level of exposure that you have? Is the opponent facing you or not facing you?
“So, what is the probability to win the ball and when you have to commit to certain duels?
“And then you have to apply defensive principles that are very clear to most of the time have the best possibility to win the ball and don’t get exposed.
“If you don’t do that, at that level, big problem.”
Whether Myles Lewis-Skelly will learn quickly
Arteta is confident that Lewis-Skelly will learn quickly from Wednesday night as he’s a “perfectionist”, and he’s also at a place where he’ll get a lot of support.
“Yeah, I think so,” Arteta said when asked whether Lewis-Skelly will learn quickly. “Yeah, because he’s very intelligent, he’s extremely demanding of himself.”
Arteta continued: “I know his reaction is like that. He’s a perfectionist. He’s got a great environment around him. They are here to learn as well.”
As well as Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, Arsenal have another top talent in Max Dowman, who Rio Ferdinand has backed for future stardom.
