Mikel Arteta Tegaskan Myles Lewis Skelly Bertahan di Arsenal

Manajer Arsenal Mikel Arteta memastikan gelandang muda Myles Lewis-Skelly tidak akan meninggalkan Emirates Stadium pada bursa transfer musim panas 2026. Penegasan ini mengakhiri spekulasi yang mengaitkan pemain berusia 19 tahun tersebut dengan Chelsea dan Manchester United.

Lewis-Skelly menjadi perhatian klub rival menyusul dorongan keuntungan murni pada aturan Profitabilitas dan Keberlanjutan (PSR). Namun, Arteta mengonfirmasi komitmen penuh klub untuk mempertahankan talenta asli binaan akademi Hale End tersebut.

"Tentu. Para pemain yang dibesarkan dalam sistem kami dan benar-benar merasakan cinta serta keterikatan dengan klub membawa sesuatu yang berbeda. Tidak ada keraguan soal itu. Kami harus menjaga mereka dengan cara yang sangat istimewa karena mereka membawa nilai yang sangat sulit ditemukan," kata Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.

Pemain serbabisa itu telah membukukan 76 penampilan, satu gol, dan tujuh assist sejak melakoni debut seniornya pada September 2024. Penampilan impresifnya berlanjut saat memberikan assist cepat dalam kemenangan 3-0 atas Manchester City di Community Shield.

"Itulah mengapa, ketika kami bisa, kami ingin melindungi aset-aset itu semaksimal mungkin. Mengembangkan mereka dan menjadikan mereka sangat penting bagi klub," ujar Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.

Keputusan mempertahankan Lewis-Skelly juga diperkuat oleh kebutuhan kedalaman skuad untuk mempertahankan gelar Premier League. Selain fokus menjaga talenta muda, Arsenal dilaporkan sedang berupaya memperkuat lini pertahanan akibat cedera jangka panjang William Saliba.

"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," kata Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.

Di sisi lain, jajaran manajemen Arsenal menegaskan tidak aktif mencari pembeli untuk pemain binaan lokal. Kebijakan ini diambil untuk memastikan masa depan jangka panjang klub tetap terjaga.

"I can’t stop other clubs being interested. I think Myles has had a fantastic end to last season and has started this one really well, we’re very, very happy with him," kata Richard Garlick, CEO Arsenal.

Pihak klub terus mengevaluasi peluang terbaik bagi perkembangan karier para pemain muda di skuad utama. Manajemen berprinsip setiap keputusan transfer harus memberikan dampak positif bagi pemain dan klub.

"Ethan has had a great pre-season as well and I think it’s just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those in terms of their career moving forward. We are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players but if the right opportunity came up, right for them and the club, we’d obviously consider that," kata Richard Garlick, CEO Arsenal.

Isu transfer pemain akademi ini turut menyita perhatian mantan pemain dan pengamat sepak bola. Ketidakpastian sempat timbul akibat skema aturan keuangan yang menguntungkan penjualan pemain lokal.

"I don’t know where that’s coming from because I know for a fact that’s not coming from his team," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Ia menyoroti kekhawatiran terkait cara interaksi klub dengan para perantara dalam proses transfer pemain. Kebijakan penjualan dinilai perlu memperhitungkan kontribusi nyata sang pemain di lapangan.

"It’s not coming from his mum. Arsenal fans need to chill out with his mum saying that she’s touting him about," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Wright juga mempertanyakan arah kebijakan transfer klub yang terkesan kontradiktif antara membeli pemain mahal dan menjual produk akademi. Situasi tersebut dianggap membingungkan pendukung.

"Myles has already said he’s happy to say. Why have Arsenal not just said he’s not for sale? He’d be a great signing for Manchester United, of course he would. Look what he’s doing," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Sistem regulasi keuangan Premier League memang memberikan insentif tinggi bagi klub yang melepas pemain hasil binaan sendiri. Penjualan tersebut dicatat sebagai keuntungan penuh dalam neraca keuangan.

"There’s things happening and this again is what I’m worried about with Arsenal, it’s the way we’re doing business with intermediaries now. How’s that story happening when we know for a fact they’re happening and want to stay and are happy," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Isu spekulasi juga berembet pada pemain lain di skuad utama seperti Gabriel Martinelli. Meski demikian, belum ada komunikasi resmi mengenai kepindahan sang winger.

"Martinelli has not been contacted by anybody at the club but has been touted about everywhere, who is doing that? Why is that happening?" kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Pendukung berharap manajemen memberikan kepastian tegas agar fokus tim tidak terganggu jelang laga-laga krusial. Kejelasan status pemain dinilai penting untuk menjaga stabilitas kamar ganti.

"You know what’s confusing? How can we be in for Vinicius Junior when we’re looking to break records trying to sign this guy but now we’re desperate to sell. What’s going on?" kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Kebutuhan menyeimbangkan skuad membuat beberapa pemain berpotensi meninggalkan klub menuju liga luar negeri sebelum bursa transfer ditutup.

"We’ve got a big squad and somebody has to leave but it seems like everyone leaving Arsenal is going to Turkey, that’s another thing," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Beban finansial dan aturan keuntungan bersih tetap menjadi tantangan utama bagi klub-klub besar Premier League dalam mempertahankan talenta muda.

"The unfortunate thing you get when you’ve got a player who comes through the academy and breaks in to the first team and does what they do, you’ve always got that noose of pure profit on them," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Situasi berbeda dialami Ethan Nwaneri yang rencananya akan dipinjamkan guna mendapatkan menit bermain reguler demi mematangkan potensinya.

"It’s the same with Ethan Nwaneri. I’m hearing now that they’re not going to sell him they want to loan him which I’m quite pleased about because I don’t think at any stage he’s had a run to have a go at playing in that team," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Konsistensi performa Lewis-Skelly di lini tengah terbukti menjadi daya tarik kuat bagi klub rival seperti Manchester United.

"When you’ve got someone like Myles who is playing well, it’s unbelievable what he’s capable of doing then of course Manchester United will see if something can happen," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Pengamat menilai keputusan mempertahankan Lewis-Skelly merupakan langkah tepat untuk menjaga kedalaman dan kualitas skuad Arsenal.

"They’ve seen Guimaraes come in they’ve seen Declan Rice. He doesn’t want to leave and that’s the thing that’s really baffling me is why Arsenal don’t just come in and say he’s not for sale," kata Ian Wright, Mantan Pemain Arsenal.

Kehadiran pemain baru seperti Bruno Guimaraes serta pulihnya Kai Havertz diyakini memberikan dorongan besar bagi kekuatan lini tengah Arsenal musim ini.

"I think they [Arsenal] were strong. I think they are strong. It’s more about kind of keeping that squad fit. They had a lot of injuries last year and were still able to kind of get through that period," kata Fara Williams, Mantan Pemain Timnas Wanita Inggris.

Kombinasi pemain senior berkualitas dan talenta muda berbakat menjadi modal utama Arsenal untuk mempertahankan gelar juara.

"I think obviously Bruno is a big signing for them in terms of adding that quality centrally. I think if they can keep Havertz fit, that will feel like a new signing for them as well," kata Fara Williams, Mantan Pemain Timnas Wanita Inggris.

Langkah klub untuk tidak menjual Lewis-Skelly dinilai sebagai keputusan krusial dalam menjaga kontinuitas performa tim.

"So they’ve done good business. With the Lewis-Skelly rumours, I think it’ll be important that they keep him. I think he’s a fantastic young talent. So if they can keep hold of him [that’s good for them]" kata Fara Williams, Mantan Pemain Timnas Wanita Inggris.

Selain memperkuat lini tengah, Arsenal juga terus bergerak berburu bek tengah baru untuk mengantisipasi absensinya Saliba.

"With the Konsa and [Jarell] Quansah rumours, they are obviously looking to strengthen their defence with the injury to Saliba. But Arsenal have got strength all over," kata Fara Williams, Mantan Pemain Timnas Wanita Inggris.

Kemenangan di ajang pembuka kompetisi membuat tekanan pada skuad asuhan Arteta berkurang untuk mengarungi musim baru.

"It was about getting that first title, and they did it last year. And I think in doing that, the pressure is a lot less for them to do it again. But the hunger is a lot more. So I think their business has been great in the summer," kata Fara Williams, Mantan Pemain Timnas Wanita Inggris.

Di sisi lain, persiapan tim terus berjalan dengan memantau tingkat kebugaran sejumlah pemain kunci jelang pertandingan berikutnya.

"Let's see how he is, but he's evolving very well," kata Arteta, Manajer Arsenal.

Arsenal dijadwalkan menghadapi pertandingan Premier League berikutnya dengan kondisi mayoritas pemain utama siap diturunkan.