SETTABLOID

Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a performance against Ipswich Town that confirmed why Mikel Arteta increasingly trusts the 18-year-old in high-stakes Premier League matches. Arsenal’s 1-0 victory may have lacked fireworks, but it provided yet another stage for Lewis-Skelly to showcase his rapid growth and undeniable quality.

Thrown into the first team this season as a left-back, Lewis-Skelly has adapted with remarkable maturity. He started his Arsenal journey as a midfielder, but his versatility and composure have been critical during a season where injuries have left gaps to fill. Against Ipswich, he did not just cover; he excelled, earning the Man of the Match award despite the experienced Riccardo Calafiori being available on the bench.

What stands out most is how seamlessly Lewis-Skelly has transitioned into senior football. His confidence on the ball, positional awareness, and physicality belie his age. He looks like he belongs, even in a side fighting to stay in contention with Liverpool at the top of the table. Few teenagers are trusted with such responsibility, but Arteta’s faith in him speaks volumes.

Declan Rice’s glowing endorsement of his young teammate encapsulates what many fans and pundits are starting to recognise. Rice described Lewis-Skelly as “very special” and praised his composure and strength, joking that he seemed “built in a lab.” Such accolades from one of Arsenal’s leaders underline the teenager’s impact, not just on the pitch but within the dressing room.

Lewis-Skelly’s maturity extends beyond his technical ability. His focus and humility have been evident in interviews and training ground reports. Arteta highlighted his character after the Ipswich match, calling him “well ahead of his age.” That blend of talent and temperament is rare and invaluable for a club looking to build sustainably.

This season has demanded squad depth and adaptability, with key players like Oleksandr Zinchenko missing spells through injury. Lewis-Skelly has stepped into the breach with an assurance that is hard to ignore. His ability to balance defensive duties with progressive play has added another dimension to Arsenal’s approach.

Declan Rice has admitted that he has enjoyed playing in the number eight role at Arsenal and it is making him hungry to score more goals. The midfielder revealed that his most natural position is the number six, although he is happy to play wherever Mikel Arteta wants him.

For the majority of this season, that has been in a more advanced midfield role with Rice being handed more freedom to get forward and play in a box-to-box type role. The 25-year-old claims that the manager has been alternating his role depending on the opposition. Rice recently impressed in the number eight role against Crystal Palace as he bagged a goal and assist at Selhurst Park.

Rice told Prime Sport: “I feel like I can do whatever the manager wants me to do. I think I’ve always been best growing up as a six, but since I’ve come here I’ve started to learn that eight role and I feel really free in that role. Moving up and down the pitch, being a bit more box-to-box. Sometimes when the manager asks me to arrive in the box, it’s a bit more unnatural for me, because that’s not my natural game, but it does make me more hungry for goals.

“Depending on the opposition, I’ll play wherever the manager needs me to play. I had a slow start to the season off the back of the Euros but off the back of the last couple of weeks I’ve been finding my feet again and feeling much more back to myself and I’m really pleased.”

Arsenal have learned how much it may take to try and sign Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

The Gunners were heavily linked with a swoop for the Sweden international during the summer as they continued to be credited with an interest in signing a new striker. In the end, though, Arsenal opted not to bring a new centre forward to the Emirates Stadium, but that has not stopped rumours from swirling that some business could still be done moving forward.

The January transfer window opens in a couple of days, and speculation is beginning to emerge about the players Arsenal may want to sign in the New Year. Isak continues to be listed as a potential target for Mikel Arteta’s squad, and now an update has emerged about the 25-year-old striker.

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle have set their asking price for clubs who may want to sign Isak – which could include Arsenal. The report claims that the Magpies would demand a fee of at least £150million in order to sanction Isak’s exit from St. James’ Park.

Isak’s contract currently runs until 2028, and there have been rumours over if an extension could be agreed in the weeks or months ahead. Amid that speculation, the report claims that Arsenal may face competition from Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona for Isak’s signature in 2025.

Newcastle signed Isak in the summer of 2022 for a reported club-record amount worth £63million. Since then, the striker has scored 47 goals in 86 appearances for the Magpies, which has seen his market value increase.

Fabio Vieira has not been recalled by Arsenal following his absence from the Porto side in their Saturday night win over Boavista.

This sparked quite a reaction online with some suggestions even that Arsenal were planning on recalling him. It went as far as for some social feeds to claim a private jet had indeed taken off from Porto set for London with Vieira on board.

This is categorically not the case. No decision of such nature has been made by Arsenal.

Bruno would later in an interview say as much as that Vieira would be with the team for the second half of the season. “Of course…Fabio has a lot of talent and will be available next week.”

The news of Bukayo Saka’s injury has rocked Arsenal’s world and it is not just the fans who are feeling it. The players have looked to their talisman for inspiration and goals this season, particularly during some of the tougher periods.

The win over Ipswich Town was not straightforward despite it initially looking like it might just be. The early goal from Kai Havertz looked like it might encourage the visitors to open up more but even at a defecit, time was being wasted by the goalkeeper and it seemed as though they just wanted to cling on.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game. Three points were the most important thing but I think we could have scored more as well, which is a shame but yeah three points is the most important thing.”

Naturally, though, the conversation turned quickly to the absence of Saka and his new right-side partner Gabriel Martinelli. While talented, and capable, it is a change for Timber who has been playing mostly with an inverted left-footer but has now changed to the right-footed Brazilian.

“Yeah of course it is a bit different, I think Martinelli has shown already a couple of times he can play both sides and of course, he’s different than Bukayo, but I think he’s a big threat for every defender and he’s going to show it as well.”

Arsenal are very interested in signing one of Atalanta’s best players this season.

The Gunners have had a frustrating Premier League campaign. They are six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

The Gunners have had a frustrating Premier League campaign. They are six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Manager Mikel Arteta could be backed with funds to bolster the squad this winter, and Corriere make a surprise claim.

The Italian outlet report that the Gunners are among the ‘most interested’ clubs in signing Atalanta’s Marco Carnesecchi.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been a revelation for the Bergamo outfit, who are presently top of Serie A.

Arsenal already have a good relationship with his agent. He also represents Riccardo Calafiori.

Atalanta will reportedly demand between £33-41 million to part ways with their prized asset.

The Gunners are likely to face competition from Paris Saint-Germain, but they are only considering a summer move.

Arsenal speculation could be agent-driven

Carnesecchi has been in exceptional form for Atalanta this term. He recently made eight saves in a tight 1-0 win over Cagliari.

He has had similar stand-out performances. The Italian has caught the eye with his strong reflexes and good distribution from the back.

The Atalanta ace also possesses a good aerial presence and can deliver quality long balls.

Despite this, it does not make sense for Arsenal to pursue a deal for him with David Raya’s success between the sticks.

The Spaniard has evolved into a key player for the Gunners and he has singlehandedly won them games this season.

Arsenal could be eyeing a quality back-up, but they are unlikely to cough up a hefty sum on a second-choice goalkeeper.

Fabio Vieira could be on his way back to Arsenal, thereby cutting short his season-long loan at Porto.

The midfielder, who has started the last seven league games under Vitor Bruno, was entirely left out of Porto’s squad for Saturday’s 4-0 win over Boavista.

Data from flight tracking websites shows that a private jet which took off from Porto landed at London Biggin Hill Airport at 1.03pm on Saturday afternoon. Vieira’s return has not been confirmed by either club.

Arsenal have been stretched for midfield numbers at times this season, having particularly suffered when captain and playmaker Martin Odegaard missed 12 games between September and November due to an ankle injury.

The deeper-lying Mikel Merino was absent for his first few weeks at Arsenal with a shoulder injury while Declan Rice was suspended for the North London Derby following his red card against Brighton in September.

Vieira is a central attacking midfielder by trade but has mostly been used as a right winger while on loan at former club Porto – meaning he will be perfectly capable of filling in for Bukayo Saka. Arteta has meanwhile just learned that Saka has been sidelined for more than two months after he required a procedure on his hamstring this week.

The dreaded Bukayo Saka update was always coming, but so soon after a win? Come on, Mikel. Let us down gently.

We’re going to be without our leading light for a very long time, and his absence only increases the significance of performances/victories such as Friday night’s over the Tractor Boys. We’ve got to stay in this title race for as long as we can.

Arsenal hardly sparkled to wrap up 2024, but the performance as a collective was measured and there were several standout performers. There were three who caught the eye.

1.Kai Havertz

Havertz has come in for some criticism over the past month, and his performance at the weekend didn’t exactly instil much confidence that a return to a midfield function would pay dividends moving forward.

However, Arteta stuck with the German in the middle of the park and Havertz produced in best performance in quite some time.

He crashed the box and tapped home the game’s only goal which was, of course, crucial, but his performance was impressive for reasons transcending his tap-in.

Havertz was here, there and everywhere. His tendency to float and pick gaps within the defensive structure allowed him to combine and drag Ipswich defenders away from their preferred defensive zones. He also helped Arsenal get up the pitch by winning aerial duels, but was intent on denying the visitors any time to breath immediately after possession was lost.

2.Myles Lewis-Skelly

We were all getting caught up in Ethan Nwaneri fever, but Arsenal had another ready-made Hale End graduate waiting in the wings. Lewis-Skelly started again on Friday night with Riccardo Calafiori failing to get off the bench – a testament to the teenager’s form since coming into Arteta’s XI.

On Friday, Lewis-Skelly showed tons of personality when inverting infield from left-back. He always showed for and wanted the ball, with his steely frame allowing him to resist and roll challenges which opened up Ipswich’s press.

3.Declan Rice

was initally frustrated with Rice on Friday, but after sound kip I’ve awoken with an alternate view.

Sure, Rice could’ve been braver with the ball at times and he perhaps needs to take more creative responsibility in these sorts of games given the position he occupied on the pitch. However, sustained pressure is the ideal for Arteta, which means retention and circulation are paramount.