Mikel Arteta sends Myles Lewis-Skelly message over Arsenal discipline amid England buzz | OneFootball

Gunners boss insists teenager must learn lesson after latest red card fears lead to early withdrawal in PSV rout

Advice: Mikel Arteta says Myles Lewis-Skelly must understand how ‘really thin the line is’ in senior football

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Mikel Arteta says it would be an “incredible experience” for Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly if they were called up by England next week, while he has also urged Lewis-Skelly to learn lessons over his on-pitch discipline.

Arteta is unsure if Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are on that list, but he believes the pair would relish representing their country.

“I have no idea [if they are on Tuchel’s longlist],” said Arteta. “Obviously, what I've read and hear about the noise that is around it. So, it's Thomas who will talk with his coaches the decision and we'll support it.

“Knowing Thomas and the coaching staff and the environment that they have created on the England campus, it will be an incredible experience for them.

“If that’s the case, whenever that is. That’s not my decision; that will be their decision. How we manage them here, it’s ours. It’s in our control.

“Down there, we’ll leave it to coaches and people that are super experienced. Much more experienced than me.”

Arsenal are next in action in the Premier League on Sunday, when they travel to Manchester United, and Lewis-Skelly will hope to keep his place in the team.

The 18-year-old had a difficult night during Tuesday’s 7-1 Champions League last-16 first-leg win away at PSV Eindhoven, when he was taken off before half-time.

“I think it was quite clear that we had a liability there, with the yellow card and the next action,” said Arteta.

“So, it wasn’t a moment to take any risk, and learn from that experience managing the game for so long, especially with how important this competition is.

“So, yeah, a lesson to learn for him, for sure. We will support and help him. But the line is really thin in the sport, and he needs to understand that.

“I think dominating the situation, that’s it. Control the situation. You need to dominate. What space are you defending? What is the level of exposure that you have? Is the opponent facing you or not facing you?

“So, what is the probability to win the ball and when you have to commit to certain duels? And then you have to apply defensive principles that are very clear to most of the time have the best possibility to win the ball and don’t get exposed. If you don’t do that, at that level, big problem."