"Maybe it happens for the right reason" - Mikel Arteta sends message to Arsenal star as he's left out of national team squad for WC qualifiers

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has sent an encouraging message to Myles Lewis-Skelly following the 19-year-old's omission from Thomas Tuchel's English squad. The Spanish tactician has urged Lewis-Skelly to take the exclusion optimistically and focus on improving his performance.

Ahead of the Gunners' Premier League clash against Sunderland on Saturday, November 8, Arteta talked about the need to give the 19-year-old reassurance. He said (via GOAL):

"Yes for sure, we are here to support and to help each other and give a good perspective of the situation."

Arteta also lauded Myles Lewis-Skelly for his performance for the Gunners and advised him to look forward to the future. The Spanish tactician added:

"When you look at his age, what he's already done, he's just remarkable. So don't look at the one (bad) moment what is happening for you because maybe it happens for the right reason and today you cannot see it."

Lewis-Skelly, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in North London last season, has struggled for regular game time in the 2025-26 campaign. The Englishman has been on the pitch for less than 100 minutes in seven Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

In a total of 12 games this season, the 19-year-old has started only two - in the UEFA Champions League against Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, instead of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly and Tottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence have been called for the Three Lions' squad. England will face Serbia and Albania in the November international break.

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Mikel Arteta heaps praise on former Arsenal midfielder ahead of Sunderland clash

Mikel Arteta has lauded former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka for his contributions. The Spanish tactician also praised the Swiss midfielder for making him a better coach.

Xhaka, who joined Sunderland earlier this summer on a three-year deal, played for the Gunners from 2016 to 2023. In 2019, Xhaka was stripped of his captaincy under Unai Emery and seemed to be nearing a departure from the North London club.

However, following Mikel Arteta's arrival in December 2019, Xhaka eventually became a fan favourite before finally leaving the club for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023. Addressing Xhaka's importance in his initial Arsenal line-up, Arteta said in the post-match press conference (via ESPN):

"I loved every minute we spent together. When I joined, he was in a special moment of his life and career. Between all of us, we tried to guide him, to give him a different perspective, to make him feel loved and valued, and he responded in an incredible way.""He made me a better coach. He helped us to develop and improve a lot as a team and a club. I will be eternally grateful because I have great memories with him," he added.

Xhaka-led Sunderland will host the Gunners at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, November 8.

Edited by Parag Jain