Mikel Arteta handed double Arsenal reminder ahead of Nottingham Forest

A weekend without Premier League action for Arsenal means that Mikel Arteta and his backroom staff have longer to prepare for the next game.

The Gunners return next weekend when they take on Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off (12.30pm). While international duty means that Arteta will have a smaller squad to work with over the next few times, the Arsenal boss is sure to be keeping an eye on how his players representing their nations get on.

On Saturday he had the chance to keep a close eye on four players in the starting line-up for England against Andorra at Villa Park. MylesLewis-Skelly and Declan Rice, along with summer signings Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, all started the game for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

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It was two players in particular who may have sent a reminder to Arteta with their performances.

Despite establishing himself as a regular in the left-back role at Arsenal last season, leading to his first England call-up in March, this season Lewis-Skelly seems to have dropped down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.

In the three Premier League games of the season so far, the 18-year-old has been a second-half substitute in the first two and was left on the bench for last weekend’s 1-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield.

Thankfully for the player, the lack of starts didn’t impact Tuchel’s selection when naming his England squad or starting XI against Andorra. Lewis-Skelly started at left-back and played the full 90 minutes of the game.

Despite his lack of starts this season, the teenager played well. As was probably expected, he was not troubled by Andorra’s attackers and got forward well to help support the attack as England came out as 2-0 winners.

The goal that secured the win came in the second half from another Arsenal player, Declan Rice. The midfielder arrived late in the box to head home Reece James’ cross into the box in the 67th minute.

The goals could serve as a reminder to Arteta as to what Rice can do in the box if given the opportunity to make those runs. With Martin Zubimendi coming in and playing the number six role, it should give Rice, along with Martin Odegaard, more freedom to make more runs into the box and get into more advanced and goalscoring positions.

While Eze struggled to have too much of an impact on the game, Madueke looked lively, which is another good sign for Arteta going into the game against Forest. The Arsenal boss could have another chance to have a look at the four players again on Tuesday night when England take on Serbia in a World Cup qualifier (7.45pm kick-off).