England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley has backed Myles Lewis-Skelly to seize his chance at Arsenal if it comes this season.

Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2024-25 for Arsenal, which earned him his first senior England call-up, but he has slipped down the pecking order at the Gunners this term.

He has made 27 appearances, but only 12 of those have been from the start; he has played just 1,298 minutes, with most of those coming in the Champions League.

Despite his limited game time, he has managed four assists for Arsenal from 14 chances created.

Lewis-Skelly has opted to drop down to England U21s for this international camp due to his lack of starts, but Carsley believes that decision will only benefit him at club level if Mikel Arteta calls on him.

"He's shown such a great attitude, and it's really benefited him this week, playing minutes and training at a good level," Carsley said of Lewis-Skelly.

"We look at attitude, we look at the desire to play, and he was really enthusiastic about coming to the 21s. He sees that potentially as a route into getting minutes and then potentially going to play for Arsenal and then England.

"He had such a rise so quickly, and this is football. This is what happens. There is lots of ups and downs, but he's responded well to it this camp.

"I think you can train all you want, but there is nothing like match minutes where you are competing against someone and the intensity of it.

"The fact now that he's potentially going back, having played a lot of minutes for England, puts him [in] a strong position where, if he is called upon or gets a chance, he is ready to go. He doesn't [now] need one or two games, which you don't get at that level, to bed in."

Arsenal, after losing the EFL Cup final to Manchester City before the international break, are still fighting for three trophies.

They lead the way in the Premier League by nine points with seven games to play, and are through to the FA Cup and Champions League quarter-finals.