But football can be brutal. Fast-forward to now, and the 18-year-old finds himself demoted to the bench, his role reduced to late cameos while Calafiori has stormed ahead in the pecking order. On average, the Italian attempts more passes into the box (1.74 vs 1.18), swings in more open-play crosses (1.01 vs 0.66), and delivers far more attacking threat in front of goal, from total shots (0.91 vs 0.2) to efforts on target (0.55 vs 0.07). Even in progressive play, the Italian averages 13.17 forward passes per game, compared to Lewis-Skelly’s 10.38.
According to The Daily Mail,recognising the need to develop his attacking instincts, new assistant coach Gabriel Heinze has taken Lewis-Skelly under his wing. Sessions have been heavily focused on crossing accuracy and how best to exploit attacking zones when Arsenal dominate possession.
The youngster has responded well, putting in extra hours after training and working closely with the coaching staff to close the gap to Calafiori. Those at London Colney believe the teenager is still far ahead of schedule, having jumped from the Under-21s to Champions League knockout football in less than a year.
While Arsenal minutes are proving harder to come by, Thomas Tuchel has shown no hesitation in trusting Lewis-Skelly for England. He started and impressed in the Three Lions’ 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Andorra, showing the composure and fearlessness that made him such a sensation in his debut year.
Lewis-Skelly is still a rock defensively, winning more duels per game last season (6.04) than established stars Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and even Calafiori himself. His relentless tackling, tireless energy and versatility, since he was raised as a midfielder before being shifted to full-back, mark him out as one of Arsenal’s brightest prospects. Club insiders insist his long-term place is secure, pointing to the five-year deal he signed earlier this year.
At 18, patience is key for Lewis-Skelly. He knows Calafiori’s form has made life tougher, but thanks to Heinze’s guidance and Tuchel’s international backing, his opportunity will come again. And with Arsenal pushing for silverware on multiple fronts, he may yet turn this season’s setback into the next chapter of his incredible story.
