%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Myles Lewis-Skelly has started at left back for Arsenal with Riccardo Calafiori being out with injury over the past few weeks.
The academy graduate has impressed since being entrusted by Mikel Arteta and his good performances saw him continue in the XI against Crystal Palace and Ipswich despite Calafiori being back available for selection.
With Lewis-Skelly giving his manager no reason to drop him yet, questions will begin to be asked if he could displace Riccardo Calafiori as the Gunners' first choice left back in the long run.
Could Myles Lewis-Skelly displace Riccardo Calafiori?
Since first coming into the side in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Monaco, Lewis-Skelly has put together an impressive run of form that has seen him continue to start despite the return of Riccardo Calafiori.
Calafiori is an extremely talented footballer who has enjoyed a good debut season so far with the Gunners. He has become their first choice left-back, but there is a possibility he could be displaced by his fellow defender.
In Mikel Arteta's system, a left back is expected to contribute plenty in attack by getting up the pitch and drifting into midfield along with doing what is asked of them defensively.
Considering his natural position as a midfielder, Lewis-Skelly has tended to drift infield rather than stick entirely to the left flank when in league action. In comparison, Calafiori does come inside but has a tendency to spend most of his time on the flank.
In his last four appearances (excluding Ipswich game) in all competitions, Lewis-Skelly has made 12 progressive passes and attempted five take-ons, successful with four. In Calafiori's previous four games, he made ten progressive passes and attempted no take-ons. Lewis-Skelly seems to be more eager than his Italian counterpart to get forward and help out in attack.
Calafiori seems to be the more reliable player in defensive terms. Of the eight tackles he attempted in his last four games, he won seven (87.5% success rate), also blocking three shots. Lewis-Skelly on the other hand attempted just five tackles and won only three giving him a success rate of 60%. The Hale End graduate made no blocks. The statistics confirm that Calafiori is better equipped to the role in a defensive sense.
With Lewis-Skelly not being a natural left back, instead a midfielder, there is a chance he may struggle with playing in the role at times. As has shown with past examples of midfielders filling in at full back such as Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, the switch doesn't always work and there will be times where Lewis-Skelly can't adapt well. This would raise concerns about his ability to displace Calafiori.
The Italian was also signed by the club to be their first choice left back. Having only joined in the summer, it would seem strange for Arteta to replace him so soon but there are other factors that support the replacement. Part of the reason for replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko was his proneness to injury, and in that sense, the signing of Calafiori has not boded well. The former Bologna defender has already missed nine games through injury this season meaning he cannot be relied upon fully.
There are factors that both support and oppose the idea of Myles Lewis-Skelly displacing Riccardo Calafiori at left back. The academy graduate fits better into Arsenal's system considering his ability to help out in attack and drift into midfield but he doesn't offer the same in defence as his Italian comrade. However, Calafiori's injury struggles do point toward Lewis-Skelly being a suitable candidate to displace him.
While it may not be a permanent decision, Lewis-Skelly could very well displace Calafiori for the foreseeable future. He has been performing well so Arteta has no reason to drop him for now. He is more than capable of meeting the requirements of an Arsenal left back so if he is to continue putting on the displays he currently is, there is no reason why could not displace Calafiori fully in the future.