Jamie Carragher urges Mikel Arteta to avoid 'strange' Arsenal transfer mistake

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher (Picture: The Overlap)

Jamie Carragher can’t understand why Arsenal are considering selling Myles Lewis-Skelly and said it would be a ‘strange’ decision to let the academy graduate leave this summer.

Premier League champions Arsenal reportedly offered the 19-year-old England international to both Man United and Chelsea.

Lewis-Skelly had a frustrating start to the previous campaign but broke into the team at the business end of the season, becoming the second-youngest Englishman to start a Champions League final when the Gunners lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

However, despite his increased importance to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are believed to be open to offers after signing Bruno Guimaraes in a £75million deal from Newcastle United.

Additional reports suggest that Lewis-Skelly is keen to remain at Arsenal and fight for his place in the team, and Carragher believes the Gunners would be making a big mistake if they cashed in on the 19-year-old.

‘That’s the thing that was a little bit strange about it,’ he told The Overlap Fan Debate with Sky Bet.

‘It felt almost like Arsenal offered Manchester United Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Myles Lewis Skelly has been linked with an Arsenal exit (Picture: Getty)

‘It wasn’t Myles Lewis-Skelly saying, I want to leave, or his people putting something out. That’s where the shock came from, not so much the players’ side of it.’

Carragher continued: ‘I still can’t believe it. Obviously, last season wasn’t great for him for the whole season, but when a young player has already put in performances like I’ve seen him put in at the Bernabeu – maybe over a year or 18 months ago, at left-back, he was running the game at the Bernabeu – and then his performance in the final in central midfield against Paris Saint-Germain.

‘You can’t play at that level unless you’re pretty special at that age. All young players have ups and downs. Last season he didn’t play as much as he probably would have liked.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: AFP)

‘But his ceiling is so high for the performances he’s already put in as a 20-year-old kid. I couldn’t believe that Arsenal would even think about letting him go. It does feel like a strange one.’

Lewis-Skelly, who is under contract until 2030, scored during Arsenal’s friendly win over Como on Wednesday and celebrated by making the shape of a heart with his hands towards the crowd at the Emirates.