Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly sent clear explanation immediately after England snub

Thomas Tuchel has explained why Myles Lewis-Skelly has been omitted from the latest England squad, with the Arsenal defender having not seen enough regular game time this season

England boss Thomas Tuchel has indicated that Myles Lewis-Skelly's limited playing time has contributed to his omission from the Three Lions squad for the November international fixtures.

Lewis-Skelly's impressive performances for Arsenal last season earned him his maiden senior England call-ups under Tuchel, but the youngster finds himself amongst several players dropped from the most recent selection.

The 19-year-old has found opportunities scarce at club level this season, with Riccardo Calafiori overcoming his previous injury troubles and establishing himself as a regular starter at left-back.

He's not alone in missing out following an October call-up, and his exclusion could open the door for Manchester City prospect Nico O'Reilly to earn his senior bow against Serbia or Albania.

"Myles was a very good team-mate and played for us in the last camp in the World Cup qualifier in Riga, so was Ruben Loftus-Cheek, so was Morgan Gibbs-White and James Trafford," Tuchel explained.

"But I said last time there is a component to it that it's about competition and performance and the door is always open for guys who perform on a regular and high level.

"Myles, Ruben and Morgan got out-performed by Nico O'Reilly, Alex Scott, Nick Pope and Jude [Bellingham] in their positions. Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes. Now came a time when Nico O'Reilly had so many starts in that position, so he is slightly ahead for this camp."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has revealed the club will help provide Lewis-Skelly with "perspective" following the defender's omission from England's squad for the November internationals.

Arteta was quizzed about the youngster ahead of Arsenal's weekend journey to Sunderland and acknowledged the circumstances surrounding his player.

"Yes for sure, we are here to support and to help each other and give a good perspective of the situation," Arteta told reporters on Friday when asked if Lewis-Skelly might need an arm around him.

"So don't look at the one moment of what is happening for you because maybe today it is happening for the right reason."

Lewis-Skelly has featured for just 86 minutes in the Premier League this campaign but Arteta has afforded him additional playing time in other tournaments.

He completed the full 90 in both of Arsenal's Carabao Cup fixtures, against Port Vale and Brighton, and began twice in the Champions League before entering as a substitute in Tuesday's triumph away to Slavia Prague.

"The standards are high and everyone wants to play. Because the levels are so much higher this season, places are short, but you've just got to compete," he said at the end of October.

"At the end of the day, I just want to express myself. Football's what I love and I'll never make excuses if I am playing or not. I just want to go out there and express myself.

"As long as I'm doing that, I'm giving the gaffer a choice to make."