Why Lewis-Skelly Beat Spence for England LB Spot

 By Danong

Undoubtedly, the 2024/25 season has been a standout year for young English left-backs breaking through in the Premier League.

Myles Lewis-Skelly with Arsenal, Djed Spence with Tottenham Hotspur, Lewis Hall with Newcastle and Keane Lewis-Potter with Brentford have all made their mark, taking the league by storm.

With Luke Shaw struggling with injuries and Ben Chilwell lacking consistency, now is the perfect time for someone to break into the England Three Lions squad and cement a spot at left-back.

Thomas Tuchel, in his first squad selection as England manager, had the opportunity to choose one of the four. As you probably know by now, the German tactician opted for Arsenal’s young defender, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

With Lewis Hall sidelined by a long-term foot injury, his exclusion was an easy decision.

But why was Lewis-Skelly chosen over Spence and Lewis-Potter? Here are some reasons I believe Thomas Tuchel and his coaching team preferred Lewis-Skelly:

1. Superior Ball-Winning Ability
Lewis-Skelly excels at regaining possession, leading with 2.81 tackles per 90 minutes compared to Spence’s 2.52 and Lewis-Potter’s 1.46.  

2. Defensive Blocks
He’s more effective at stopping shots and passes, recording 1.50 blocks per 90 minutes, ahead of Spence’s 1.38 and Lewis-Potter’s 0.64.  

3. Aerial Dominance
The Arsenal defender wins 1.13 aerial duels per 90, surpassing Spence (0.97) and Lewis-Potter (0.32).  

4. Ball Progression
While Spence edges him slightly in progressive passes (4.55 vs 4.13), Lewis-Skelly remains highly effective at moving the ball forward, unlike Lewis-Potter, who averages only 3.02.  

5. Game Involvement
Lewis-Skelly averages 60.2 touches per 90 minutes, more than Spence (58.8) and Lewis-Potter (46.1), reflecting his higher influence on the game.  

Despite playing far fewer minutes than Spence and Lewis-Potter, Lewis-Skelly’s per-90 stats are better. While he may not dominate every metric, he is still the better prospect to gamble on.

Thomas Tuchel has coached some of the finest talents in football. When he calls Lewis-Skelly "nothing but impressive," it’s not just flattery.

The Arsenal youngster’s versatility, ball progression and defensive solidity make him the most promising left-back among his peers.

Just six months into top-flight football, he’s already turned heads in the national team setup. Imagine where Lewis-Skelly could be if he had the same top-flight experience as Spence and Lewis-Potter.