Thierry Henry wants Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield for Arsenal

Thierry Henry has put a clear selection idea on the table before Arsenal's second leg against Atletico Madrid. He would like to see Myles Lewis-Skelly used in midfield again after the 19-year-old started there against Fulham and turned in an accomplished 90-minute display in Arsenal’s 3-0 win.

Why Henry backed Lewis-Skelly

Lewis-Skelly had only appeared in central midfield a couple of times before that, both as a substitute. Against Fulham, though, he looked comfortable enough to make Henry talk about him in obvious terms. “I didn't see [Martin] Zubimendi do that often – the legs, anticipation, going, stopping someone, boom, making someone feel that you that you are there; he was there all the time,” Henry said.

That is a strong endorsement, but the bigger point is the one Henry made about readiness. “It's one thing to be patient. It's one thing to maybe be upset about the situation. But he was ready,” he said. Henry then went further: “Do not underestimate experience in this type of game. But would I like to see him on Tuesday or tomorrow, obviously? Yes. Why not?”

The data in the brief supports why this idea has legs. Lewis-Skelly played 90 minutes in central midfield against Fulham, had a 9-minute outing against Newcastle in the sample, and had managed only 1 minute of Champions League action before that Fulham start. That is a small sample, but it does explain why Henry’s backing stands out.

What Arsenal have to balance in the second leg

The tie is level at 1-1 after the first leg in Madrid, so Mikel Arteta is not just picking a team for style points. He is deciding how much control he wants against an Atletico side that Lauren says have conceded 12 goals in their last seven games, most of them from set-pieces.

Jamie Carragher's view leans toward stability. “I think the big thing Arsenal have done in the last couple of games is put Declan Rice a little bit deeper and I think that's had a big impact,” he said. Rice’s Premier League rating is 7.44, which fits the argument that a deeper role has not blunted him.

That leaves Arteta with a straightforward football question. Keep Rice where he has been giving Arsenal balance, or use Lewis-Skelly again in a game that Henry clearly thinks suits his energy and anticipation. Henry's case is the bolder one, and after Fulham it is hard to dismiss it. Arsenal now have to decide whether to trust that same midfield look against Atletico on home turf.