Myles Lewis-Skelly in contention for Arsenal start vs. Everton

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hasn't ruled out the possibility of youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly starting against Everton.

It has already been some week for Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly having made his Champions League debut midweek in which he showed out, but it has the potential to get even better.

The teenager was thrust into the Arsenal lineup against Monaco more out of necessity given the sheer number of games the Gunners are playing. He produced a superb pass to set Gabriel Jesus free, who then teed up Bukayo Saka for the first goal of the game.

While he was withdrawn just after the hour mark, Lewis-Skelly made his presence felt, so much so that he might be in line to start against Everton in the Premier League, according to Mikel Arteta.

"He certainly deserves to be in contention to be selected because he performed and competed really well," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "At his age, to show maturity on the pitch is strange and off the field is exactly the same. He is a person who continuously surprises all the staff with the kind of questions that keep all of us asking. A lot of times that shows you the intelligence of the person and Myles is a really bright boy."

While some might scoff at the notion of the teenager starting in back-to-back games, the harsh reality of Premier League football is about to hit Arsenal between the eyes.

The Gunners will play three games in eight days starting with the Toffees and that means that Arteta can't keep his usual starting XI the same for the risk of burn out, hence the need for squad rotation.

This is where the likes of Lewis-Skelly and Kieran Tierney come in and after the teenager's performance against Monaco, it would have no doubt given Arteta confidence that if he needs to call on the Hale End product again, he can.

While it isn't a "lock" that Lewis-Skelly will start for the second consecutive game, the fact that Arteta is even contemplating it shows how much faith he must have in his young defender.

The Gunners are still six points behind leaders Liverpool, while having played an extra game, so there is no margin for error if Arteta's side wants to reel in Arne Slot's team.

Starting with Everton, the Gunners must lay waste to each opponent and hope the Reds stutter, and if Lewis-Skelly plays a role in Arsenal closing the gap, then that will be good for the soul.

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