Arsenal star’s stunning form rewarded with first international call-up this year

Five Arsenal players have been called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

The Three Lions have four Nations League fixtures to play over the next couple of weeks, with games against Spain, Czech Republic and a double header against Croatia.

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have obviously been included, being two of the first names on the teamsheet. Ezri Konsa and Eberechi Eze have also kept their spots from the World Cup. There’s no place for Noni Madueke this time, with Cole Palmer and Rio Ngumoha coming in.

There was some debate whether Max Dowman’s quality and potential should warrant him a spot, particularly after his Ipswich display, but it’s been deemed too early for the 16-year-old. Probably right.

But another Arsenal teenager has been rewarded for his recent form.

Myles Lewis-Skelly receives call-up to the England squad

Myles Lewis-Skelly has been called up to the senior England squad for the first time since last October. He was a mainstay during Tuchel’s early tenure as a left-back, before his lack of involvement for Arsenal led to Nico O’Reilly and Lewis Hall being preferred.

However, after the 19-year-old played his way back into Mikel Arteta’s team — this time as a central midfielder — he was unlucky to be left out of the squad for the World Cup. Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson went instead, who played a combined six minutes at the tournament.

Lewis-Skelly has been unfazed by the big-money signing of Bruno Guimaraes, and has started every Premier League game in midfield with Rice with great success. It will be interesting to see if Tuchel tries that formula for England, though Elliot Anderson will be very difficult to displace in the team.