Tuchel Shocks Football World by Axing Arsenal Star from England Squad

Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has been omitted from Thomas Tuchel's squad for England's World Cup qualifying match against Serbia on Tuesday evening, though this exclusion might actually prove advantageous for the north London club.

Tuchel gave Lewis-Skelly his first senior England cap in March and was immediately rewarded when the youngster found the net just 20 minutes into his international debut against Albania. While initially positioned behind Riccardo Calafiori in Arsenal's hierarchy, Lewis-Skelly earned another call-up from Tuchel this month and featured for the entire 90 minutes in Saturday's 2-0 win over Andorra.

Among many players who struggled in a particularly lackluster encounter, Lewis-Skelly's reluctance to deliver incisive forward passes left England's left wing devoid of offensive impetus. The 18-year-old failed to complete any crosses or beat a single opponent in what was a frustratingly barren performance.

With Newcastle United's Lewis Hall sidelined through injury, Lewis-Skelly remained the sole naturally left-footed defender in Tuchel's selection, though this distinctive attribute hasn't protected him from exclusion.

The German manager selected a 24-player group knowing that UEFA regulations restrict World Cup qualifiers to 23-man squads. Jarell Quansah was excluded from the Andorra fixture but has been included for Tuesday's Serbian encounter, replacing Lewis-Skelly. The Daily Mail reports that the fullback's omission is not injury-related.

Though undoubtedly disappointing personally, this exclusion could serve the teenager—and Arsenal—well in the immediate future. Instead of risking potential physical harm, Lewis-Skelly can return promptly to London before a demanding period ahead.

The Gunners welcome Nottingham Forest in Ange Postecoglou's inaugural match as manager before launching their Champions League campaign with a journey to Bilbao to meet Athletic Club on September 16.

Mikel Arteta has favored Calafiori over Lewis-Skelly throughout this season. The Italian defender has validated his manager's confidence with one goal and two assists across three appearances, though given his questionable fitness history, rotation seems inevitable as fixtures accumulate.