Arteta confident Arsenal can keep Myles Lewis-Skelly

Why Arteta sounds so sure

Arteta’s message is not really about shutting down gossip. It is about protecting a pathway.

• Lewis-Skelly is viewed as one of the standout products of Arsenal’s academy.
• Reports say Chelsea made an enquiry earlier this summer.
• Manchester United are also said to have admired him over the long term.

For Arteta, the issue seems bigger than one player. Arsenal have spent years trying to build a squad that blends elite recruitment with homegrown identity. Losing a teenager with genuine first-team promise would cut against that idea.

More than a transfer rumour

This is also a test of where Arsenal are now. Clubs chasing major honours do not just buy well; they keep the best young talent and convince them their future is already at home.

That is why Arteta’s words matter. “We need to look after them,” he said, and that sounds like a commitment to development, minutes, and trust - not just contract talk. If Lewis-Skelly believes that route is real, Arsenal should feel strong about their position.

What rivals may see

From the outside, the attraction is obvious.

• Chelsea have often looked to the youth market for elite upside.
• Manchester United have long valued technically sharp, versatile young midfielders.
• Lewis-Skelly appears to fit the modern profile: composed, flexible, and high ceiling.

Still, admiration is one thing; prising him away from Arsenal is another.

The next clue may come not in the transfer chatter but on the pitch. Other reports suggest Arsenal open the new league campaign against Coventry on Friday, and squad decisions around that game could offer the clearest sign yet of how strongly Arteta plans to back Lewis-Skelly this season.