Myles Lewis-Skelly should completely ignore the advice Ashley Cole has just given him
Of all the people to offer Myles Lewis-Skelly advice, Ashley Cole might just be the last one Arsenal fans would want him to listen to
Cole acrimoniously left Arsenal for Chelsea in 2006, in a move many fans believe was driven by money, dressed up as ambition.
He left the club that effectively made him and went on to win major honours with their London rivals.
Fans have never forgiven him for it, and now, two decades later, he is telling one of the most exciting young players to come through the Hale End academy to follow his gut and consider leaving.
Ashley Cole’s advice and why Myles Lewis-Skelly should ignore it
Discussing Lewis-Skelly’s situation on CBS Sports, Cole said: “I think you’ve just got to go with your gut. You have a short career, and if you feel that somewhere else is going to enhance your ability to play week in, week out, and give you a chance to win, why not?
“Whether he thinks that is at Arsenal or somewhere else, that’s the advice that I would give him.”
With respect, and it pains Arsenal fans to offer even that, Lewis-Skelly shouldn’t listen to a single word of it.
Sure, Ashley Cole went on to win many major trophies, but the Chelsea in 2006 was far different to the Chelsea in 2026. The same can be said for Manchester United.
And Arsenal themselves are a different beast now. When Cole left, Arsenal had just finished fourth and hadn’t won the title in two years. That would obviously stretch to 22 as the club endured a difficult period.
But Arsenal are the Premier League champions now, and are favourites to win it again this season. This isn’t the same club Cole walked out on. This is the best team in England and one of the best teams in Europe.
Chelsea, meanwhile, just finished 10th and won’t even play in Europe this season, despite splashing out another £340million to the billions they have spent in recent years.
The idea that leaving Arsenal for Chelsea right now, or Manchester United for that matter, would be a good move, is frankly laughable.
Why would going from being a rotation option for your boyhood club — the champions of England — to being a rotation option for a worse team make any sense?
Lewis-Skelly will get plenty of minutes in what will be another 60-game season. And with Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Bruno Guimaraes all almost a decade older than him, the pathway to becoming Arsenal’s most important midfielder in two or three years is clear.
Besides, Mikel Arteta has firmly ruled out any departure. He showed how much faith he has in the 19-year-old when he started him in the Champions League final.
Cole followed the money in 2006. Lewis-Skelly should follow his heart.
