Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Myles Lewis-Skelly must learn from his close call after avoiding a red card against PSV, warning the young player that “the line is thin.”

Mikel Arteta has emphasized that Myles Lewis-Skelly must learn from his recklessness after narrowly avoiding a second yellow card in Arsenal’s 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven.

The 18-year-old was substituted shortly after a reckless challenge on Richard Ledezma in the first half, which could have resulted in his dismissal, given he had already received a booking. This isn’t the first time Lewis-Skelly has pushed the limits, having previously been sent off against Wolves and West Ham—though his red card against Wolves was later overturned on appeal.

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday, Arteta acknowledged the risk involved in keeping him on the pitch.

“It was clear we had a liability with the yellow card and the next action,” he said. “So, it wasn’t the moment to take any risks. He needs to learn from this experience, especially given how important this competition is. It’s definitely a lesson for him. We’ll support and help him, but the margins in this sport are very fine, and he has to understand that.”

When asked how Lewis-Skelly could manage his physicality without compromising his defensive game, Arteta stressed the importance of control.

“It’s about dominating the situation,” he explained. “You need to understand the space you’re defending, the level of exposure, whether the opponent is facing you, and the probability of winning the ball. It’s about knowing when to commit to duels and applying clear defensive principles to maximize your chances of success without getting caught out. At this level, failing to do so is a big problem.”

Sunday’s match will see Arsenal face a Manchester United squad that includes Chido Obi, who left the club in the summer. Arsenal had hoped to keep the 17-year-old, and Arteta described his departure as “very unfortunate.”

“When a player decides that leaving is the best pathway for them, there’s not much you can do,” Arteta admitted. “It’s unfortunate because we want to keep our academy players and see them succeed with the first team, but in this case, with Ayden (Heaven), we couldn’t make that happen.”