Jamie Carragher questioned why Arsenal were considering selling Myles Lewis-Skelly after he helped the Gunners thrash Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Reigning Premier League champions made a statement of intent by thumping Enzo Maresca’s Man City 3-0 in a one-sided Community Shield.
Lewis-Skelly found Riccardo Calafiori with a brilliant assist as Arsenal took the lead inside the first 30 seconds of the match.
Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal’s advantage midway through the first half before Martin Odegaard added a third after half-time.
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It was a hugely impressive performance for defending champions Arsenal and a worrying display for Man City, who appointed Maresca to replace club legend Pep Guardiola.
Lewis-Skelly broke into Arsenal’s team as a central midfielder towards the end of last season, helping the Gunners get over the line in the title race and reach the Champions League final.
The 19-year-old started the Community Shield alongside Arsenal summer signing Bruno Guimaraes and picked up from where he left off at the end of last season with a superb performance.
Carragher was impressed by Lewis-Skelly’s display and questioned Arsenal’s transfer stance on the academy graduate.
Lewis-Skelly was reportedly offered to both Chelsea and Manchester United last week but both clubs resisted the temptation to enter into talks with Arsenal.
It was also claimed that Arsenal wanted just £45m for Lewis-Skelly, who has earned six caps for England but was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
Writing on social media, Carragher said: ‘MLS role in that Arsenal goal! Are Arsenal really looking to push him out’.
Carragher also had a message for Manchester City after their humbling defeat, simply saying they ‘have to keep Rodri’.
The Spanish World Cup winner missed the Community Shield amid intense speculation he is set to join La Liga champions Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Lewis-Skelly earned praise from Scottish football legend Ally McCoist as well as former Liverpool and England defender Carragher.
‘I think he’s been outstanding, I really do,’ said McCoist, speaking on TNT Sports commentary. ‘I think he’s been terrific.’
After a promising Community Shield win, Arsenal kick-start their Premier League title defence against newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday night.
Man City – who finished second last season, seven points behind Arsenal – welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium on the opening weekend.
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