Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has brushed off transfer speculation surrounding Myles Lewis-Skelly, saying he welcomes his players being linked with moves to other clubs.
Lewis-Skelly has been linked with potential transfers to Chelsea and Manchester United in recent days following Arsenal's signing of midfielder Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle.
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But the 19-year-old started in Arsenal's midfield in Wednesday's preseason clash with Italian side Como at the Emirates Stadium. And it was he who scored Arsenal's goal before making a heart sign to the crowd as he celebrated before tapping the club badge on his shirt on his way back to the center circle.
"It's good to be emotional after scoring, you should be emotional when you score a goal," Arteta said when asked about Lewis-Skelly's celebration.
"He's a very emotional player, you see with his gestures on the pitch. I'm not going to talk about speculation -- if there is speculation about our players, it's a good sign -- that means our players attract attention and are doing a good job."
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrates scoring Arsenal's goal against Como. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images The England international signed a five-year contract with Arsenal last summer but his long-term future has come under scrutiny since he fell behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié last term to become Mikel Arteta's third-choice left back.
While he started only five Premier League games across the course of the campaign, he enjoyed an end-of-season resurgence in his natural role of central midfield.
Arsenal, however, are well-stocked in that position after signing Guimarães to join Declan Rice, captain Martin Ødegaard and World Cup winners Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino.
"He's had a really good preseason," Arteta added of Lewis-Skelly. "We asked him to play in a different position because he played more as a No. 6 -- we obviously lacked midfielders from international duty -- and I think he had a really consistent preseason."
Brazil international Guimarães, who joined in a £75 million deal from Newcastle on Saturday, was introduced at halftime against Como to make his Gunners debut, while Lewis-Skelly was replaced in the 62nd minute by Merino.
Guimarães scored in the shootout to help Arsenal get the win after the teams were locked 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes.