Overview

• Five games into the season, Myles Lewis-Skelly has yet to start for Arsenal, with Riccardo Calafiori preferred at left-back.
• Calafiori’s early-season output includes a match-winning goal against Manchester United, two assists on matchday two, and league-leading attacking metrics for a defender reported by Just Arsenal.
• In the Champions League trip to Athletic Bilbao, Mikel Arteta started Calafiori and introduced Piero Hincapié on the left late on, according to Charles Watts.
• Watts suggests Lewis-Skelly may need to seek minutes in his natural midfield position, though he notes competition there is also intense and patience will be required.
• After an injury-hit 2024/25 that limited him to 29 appearances, Calafiori has stayed fit across seven consecutive matches to open this campaign, strengthening his hold on the spot.