Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained his decision to substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first half of the team’s dominant 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. The teenager, who was returning to the starting lineup after serving a suspension for a red card in the previous Premier League match against West Ham, was replaced after just 35 minutes of play, despite not being injured.
Lewis-Skelly played a key role early in the match, assisting Ethan Nwaneri’s goal to give Arsenal a 2-0 lead. However, after being booked for a foul on Luuk de Jong, he was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for another challenge on Richard Ledezma. With Arsenal already leading 3-0, Arteta decided to take the precaution of substituting him, bringing on Riccardo Calafiori.
In his post-match comments, Arteta clarified that the substitution was not due to injury, but rather to avoid any further risk. “I haven’t seen the second action, but when there is so much noise as well, you play away from home, I didn’t want to take any risk,” he told Amazon Prime Video.
This was not the first time Lewis-Skelly has faced disciplinary concerns. The 18-year-old had already been sent off in two previous matches—once in January against Wolves and again against West Ham, though the latter decision was overturned on appeal. With four yellow cards in all competitions this season, he is not yet at risk of a Champions League suspension, but Arteta clearly wanted to avoid any further disciplinary issues with such an important fixture looming.
Meanwhile, another Arsenal player, Jurrien Timber, received his second booking of the Champions League campaign for time-wasting during the PSV match, putting him at risk of suspension if he picks up another yellow card in the upcoming matches.
